1
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
those bygone days when young women were taught how to drink tea while wearing long gloves and other genteel ways of behaving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in civilized
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living
she grew up in genteel old Savannah
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station
the genteel ladies never mixed with the servants prohibited by reason of her genteel birth from marrying the man she loved
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in gracious
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners
his genteel gesture of holding the door for the ladies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 genteel
For even the least genteel arriviste, owning Mar-a-Lago and endearing oneself to an important Palm Beach charity would guarantee what is called entree, a place on all the right invitation lists and membership at one of the social clubs.
—
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
All this might be a bit much for those who like their international epics more refined and genteel.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024
Only that genteel veneer soon gives way to a more scathing national x-ray, satirizing post-Brexit malaise alongside broader issues of immigration and national identity.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025
Faulkner's chronicle of the dissolution of a genteel Southern family has already been adapted into two films, as has Hemingway's WWI romance.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
All this might be a bit much for those who like their international epics more refined and genteel.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024
Only that genteel veneer soon gives way to a more scathing national x-ray, satirizing post-Brexit malaise alongside broader issues of immigration and national identity.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025
Faulkner's chronicle of the dissolution of a genteel Southern family has already been adapted into two films, as has Hemingway's WWI romance.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
-
Despite their polite and understated personalities, the Japanese can’t dim their enthusiasm for baseball’s brightest star.—
Jay Paris,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
-
This said, the movers were very polite and respectful and removed all of the excess packing.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Promoting a civilized society is more important than ever, said Deborah Jordy, SCFD’s executive director for the last decade.—
John Wenzel,
The Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Had someone cast him in a movie, the actor would most likely be Paul Henreid, who played a highly civilized spy in the film Casablanca.—
John Mariani,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Emigrating is the first thing she’s ever accomplished on her own, without Spencer or her aristocratic privilege to help her (at least, not that much).—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Maybe the aristocratic lifestyle has allowed Roquefort to luxuriate in gender apathy.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Ohtani is back in Japan and that puts an even bigger grin on these gracious locals.—
Jay Paris,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
-
There's a little sprinkled throughout, but these all-stars are by and large gracious and amiable.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
However, in Illinois, a lawsuit has been filed against Samsara, alleging violations of the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) for capturing and storing drivers' facial scans without proper consent.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Bulbs that aren't provided with the proper conditions are unlikely to produce flowers.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Since these cultured muscles are small and ideally flat, nutrients and oxygen from the medium can easily reach every cell in the growing culture.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The story of carp cultivation stretches back centuries, beginning with the Romans, who first collected and cultured carp from the waters of the Danube River.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The museum's very name beautifully encapsulates its noble mission of bridging the rich tapestry of Bali's past, its vibrant present and the promising horizons of its future.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The science-fiction saga sees two forces who fight for control of the galaxy, the noble Ones and the evil Zeros, descending upon the French fishing village of Audresselles and trying to recruit the locals to their respective causes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The new bankruptcy plan was filed nine months after the U.S. Supreme Court upended the company’s previous attempt to resolve the lawsuits through a bankruptcy settlement that would have granted the Sacklers sweeping civil immunity from opioid lawsuits.—
Reuters,
CNN,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Despite clear evidence of misconduct, company leaders ignored the behavior, according to the Department of Justice civil settlement agreement.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share