as in politeness
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Recent Examples of politesse
In 1948, Vogue published its 658-page Book of Etiquette, compiled by editor Millicent Fenwick, featuring how-tos, dos and don’ts, and the proper politesse for a remarkably varied set of scenarios.
—
Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2024
Her body language changes, her voice goes into the upper register of ladylike politesse.
—Jonathan Van Meter, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2024
Decades of French lessons schooled me in the strict rules of politesse.
—Theresa Conroy, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2024
That’s the way it’s done in the Senate, where the politesse of a seemingly bygone political era still reigns supreme.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024
The politesse of reassurance may be desirable and decorous, but U.S. allies are not about to abandon their patron.
—Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
Earlier, the girls had waved off a proffered map with the icy politesse of a Tour de France winner declining training wheels.
—Judith Stone, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
In her interview, Welker seemed fed on the American tradition of treating every politician, even those complicit in an attempt to overturn the democratic tradition, with the utmost in politesse.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023
The avatars onscreen were often just rectangles or blobs, and the concepts had to stay within the bounds of dinner-table politesse.
—Neima Jahromi, The New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2021
Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2024
Her body language changes, her voice goes into the upper register of ladylike politesse.
—Jonathan Van Meter, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2024
Decades of French lessons schooled me in the strict rules of politesse.
—Theresa Conroy, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2024
That’s the way it’s done in the Senate, where the politesse of a seemingly bygone political era still reigns supreme.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024
The politesse of reassurance may be desirable and decorous, but U.S. allies are not about to abandon their patron.
—Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
Earlier, the girls had waved off a proffered map with the icy politesse of a Tour de France winner declining training wheels.
—Judith Stone, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
In her interview, Welker seemed fed on the American tradition of treating every politician, even those complicit in an attempt to overturn the democratic tradition, with the utmost in politesse.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023
The avatars onscreen were often just rectangles or blobs, and the concepts had to stay within the bounds of dinner-table politesse.
—Neima Jahromi, The New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for politesse
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
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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From an etiquette standpoint, there may be another way.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Mar. 2025
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The comedian, 42, joked that his dad has been schooling him on proper Emmy etiquette ever since the trophy arrived.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The 19-lap sprint race at the Shanghai International Circuit saw teams suffer from tire wear towards the final stages of the race, courtesy of the fresh asphalt that has enhanced grip levels.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
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This morning’s must reads (Los Angeles Times photo illustration; Photos courtesy of Google Maps) They were banned from assisted living.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The biggest challenges facing Coral Gables are public safety, irresponsible development, a lack of transparency and a lack of decorum in government.—
Miami Herald Staff,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2025
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Breaches of decorum have become a recurring trend that many members of Congress no doubt dislike.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Humanitarian aid is based on empathy and the recognition that everyone has a right to live with dignity.—
Chen Reis,
The Conversation,
21 Mar. 2025
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So these are formal situations, in which patients are in need of dignity and professional distance.—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Politesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/politesse. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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