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Synonym Chooser

How is the word gracious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of gracious are affable, cordial, genial, and sociable. While all these words mean "markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse," gracious implies courtesy and kindly consideration.

the gracious award winner thanked her colleagues

When is it sensible to use affable instead of gracious?

Although the words affable and gracious have much in common, affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.

though wealthy, she was affable to all

Where would cordial be a reasonable alternative to gracious?

In some situations, the words cordial and gracious are roughly equivalent. However, cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.

our host was cordial as he greeted us

When might genial be a better fit than gracious?

The meanings of genial and gracious largely overlap; however, genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.

a genial companion with a ready quip

When could sociable be used to replace gracious?

The synonyms sociable and gracious are sometimes interchangeable, but sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.

sociable people who enjoy entertaining

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gracious The designer opened up the floor plan to create a more gracious spatial flow between the public entertaining areas and the private bedroom zone. Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2025 Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said the president had instructed his staff to do what Mr. Trump had refused to do four years earlier: Be gracious. Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025 Dalin was gracious in the moment, but those close to him and the campaign acknowledge that the sting was real. George Allen, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025 The hotel feels grown-up and staff effusively handle all of your needs with a striking level of gracious humility. Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for gracious 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gracious
Adjective
  • The upper chamber has been slightly more hospitable terrain for Trump skeptics within the party than the House.
    Niall Stanage, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
  • To me, the ending leaves as an open question whether Tóth has retreated to illusory safe ground or found a more hospitable home.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • While most warming devices come only in plain blacks and grays, these go out of their way to look pleasant in four colorful designs.
    Clint Davis, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Image While perfectly pleasant to watch, the movement here, paired with the sentimental music, telegraphs a gravity that feels put on from the outside, rather than emanating from some deeper internal purpose or choreographic motor.
    Siobhan Burke, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Upon arrival in Key West, the group exchanges polite greetings, but the underlying tension is palpable.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 27 Jan. 2025
  • If Trump lost McConnell on Hegseth, there is reason to think other Republican lawmakers might now look around and find good—and shrewd—company in the polite opposition.
    Philip Elliott, TIME, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • My interactions with other people became fraught with anxiety almost immediately upon making the switch; even a friendly handshake held the potential for disaster.
    Chioma Nnadi, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2025
  • The first international match of the year for Costa Rica is here, and they're headed to Orlando's Inter & Co Stadium on Wednesday to take on the USA in what's shaping up to be a lively friendly.
    Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There are nice details throughout like a walk-in closet in the primary and built-in custom bookshelves in the living room.
    Clio Chang, Curbed, 28 Jan. 2025
  • The tip is $21,000, which is nice but not amazing, especially given all the dietary restrictions.
    Emma Soren, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Employers consistently emphasize the value of hiring individuals with a broad knowledge base who can collaborate to solve problems, engage in thoughtful debate, communicate clearly, and think critically—skills that liberal-arts programs rigorously cultivate.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
  • And having more thoughtful conversations doesn’t preclude the need sometimes to confront those who are needlessly cruel or organizations that benefit from such exploitation.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The cast includes Stephen Merchant as the voice of the mouse, Kristen Wiig as a scenery-chewing evil aunt, and Jim Broadbent as a kindly but clueless king.
    EW.com, EW.com, 20 Dec. 2024
  • In his fourth feature, director Hsiao Ya-Chuan follows the unsentimental education of a motherless 11-year-old boy, Liao Jie (Bai Run-yin), raised in poverty by his kindly father, Liao Tai-lai (Liu Kuan-Ting), a waiter at a busy banqueting hall.
    Alissa Simon, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • But this chocolate cherry manicure is the ultimate sweet treat: classic, glamorous, and a little bit edgy.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Afterward, the shop is a treasure trove of sweet treats that double as perfect souvenirs.
    Jessica Macdonald, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near gracious

Cite this Entry

“Gracious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gracious. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gracious

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