Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of urbane are bland, diplomatic, politic, smooth, and suave. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

When could bland be used to replace urbane?

In some situations, the words bland and urbane are roughly equivalent. However, bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

When might diplomatic be a better fit than urbane?

The synonyms diplomatic and urbane are sometimes interchangeable, but diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

When is politic a more appropriate choice than urbane?

While in some cases nearly identical to urbane, politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

Where would smooth be a reasonable alternative to urbane?

While the synonyms smooth and urbane are close in meaning, smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

When can suave be used instead of urbane?

Although the words suave and urbane have much in common, suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

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 urbane Also known as Bozen, the prosperous city is a taste of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a reminder that today’s Italy is only about 100 years old, and an especially urbane pan-European corner of Europe. Ann Abel, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 Murnau’s reimagining of the Count is monstrous rather than urbane. David Sims, The Atlantic, 24 Dec. 2024 The result is a home nestled amidst the natural beauty of Aspen that’s equipped with a sophisticated, urbane sensibility inside. Troy J. McMullen, Architectural Digest, 9 Dec. 2024 Now Morisseau, who is half Haitian and half Black American, is exploring a new setting, that of urbane Port-au-Prince, some years after the 2010 earthquake, a natural disaster that brought to the fore, with devastating clarity, the unnatural cycles of exploitation that threaten to define Haiti. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for urbane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for urbane
Adjective
  • In a world of increasingly frequent and sophisticated digital threats, the loss of cybersecurity personnel could weaken America’s defenses against ransomware, espionage, and infrastructure disruption.
    Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The engagement algorithms for such platforms are vastly less sophisticated than the ones that will be deployed in agentic A.I.
    Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The lighting is sufficient for patrons to take it all in, and the sound level, despite the size of the room, has been successfully brought down to a civilized level.
    John Mariani, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Even a hearing on the proposal to arm school staff is equal parts passionate and civilized, as the majority gun-owning constituents don’t all agree that the Second Amendment should extend to the classroom.
    Lauren Wissot, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • For six seasons, viewers knew Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth Pearson, Randall’s (Sterling K. Brown) intelligent, unflappable and graceful wife.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The result is a flattened film that, in the process of trying to capture the suppression and restraint of something graceful and unspoken, flattens it in the process too.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But her no-encore performance does get the attention of her suave boss (Hugh Grant).
    EW Staff Published, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
  • This glides like a river from mouth to stomach, a sleek and slippery flow of semi dark delight with silky suave lithe tannins and flavors that include rum raisin, beef jerky, black berries and chocolate.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Mallard Lounge epitomizes the après-ski tradition, providing a gracious transition from active days to relaxed evenings.
    Shelby Knick, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Mina, worried about her young kids doing the math about her long, grueling commute, cautiously accepts Alma’s gracious offer.
    Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In 1901, an intrepid German doctor called Eugene von Holländer was approached by a Polish aristocrat looking for smoother skin.
    Leah Dolan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Eldridge told Fox News Digital that when a rebrand is unsuccessful, the fault can lie with the teams behind the stars who failed to adequately prepare for their smooth transition to a more mature identity that will be accepted by the public.
    Ashley Hume, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Urbane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urbane. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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