1
as in manners
speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding
the little girl's politeness greatly impressed her teacher
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gesture
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
inquiring after his wife was a simple politeness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for politeness
Noun
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After seeing how reluctant to move the horse was, their older sibling decided to jump in and help delay their owner's departure—albeit, with much gentler manners.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025 -
For more on how to lose your clothes but not your manners, have a look at our perennial guide to nude beach etiquette.—
CNN,
The Mercury News,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Musk’s recent controversial behavior includes addressing an inauguration audience with a gesture many interpreted to be a Nazi salute.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
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The actress didn't seem to shy away from the gesture, and appeared to welcome the affectionate embrace.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Towson trimmed the deficit to 49-42 with 13:04 remaining courtesy of an 8-2 burst.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Jacob and Sophie’s teacher realizes there’s a problem, and puts together an impromptu lesson on basic courtesy in bathrooms.—
Sarah Hoffman and Ian Hoffman,
TIME,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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He was deployed to Italy, where his conspicuous gallantry in combat earned him the Military Cross.—
Lawrence D. Freedman,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Jan. 2020
-
Crank up the gallantry, crank up the generosity: Send a spark of love and novelty into the black cloud.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Standout moments included Tom Ford’s striking blue leather shirt in look 27; the rich tonal head-to-toe looks at Gabriela Hearst, and Givenchy’s luxurious high-necked drape dresses, which were the epitome of elegance.—
Rhonda Richford,
WWD,
12 Mar. 2025
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Shot by Kacper Kasprzyk and styled by Carine Roitfeld, the spread exudes elegance and sophistication.—
Mecca Pryor,
Essence,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The lack of civility and transparency at city meetings must end.—
Miami Herald Staff,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2025
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Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris play characters carved out of granite — monuments of a bygone era that maybe should be swept aside by civility and industrialization.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In terms of weak spots, retail trade as well as leisure and hospitality were the two groups to see job losses in February.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 2025
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That dampened employment gains in the broader public sector, which has been one of three key drivers (health care and leisure and hospitality being the others) of overall job growth with most of the credit going to strong gains in state and local governments.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Ed’s monstrous behavior under the influence of cortisone shatters the veneer of middle-class gentility to reveal the fault lines repressed beneath it.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2025
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Like Michaels, the band wanted to maintain its nonconformist cred, even though its members were verging on gentility.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
18 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Politeness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/politeness. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
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