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
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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
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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
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4
as in gracious
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners
his genteel gesture of holding the door for the ladies
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of genteel
Yet today, the atmosphere on set is far from oppressively genteel.
—
Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
Helen is this fascinating contradiction — a genteel Tory wife who is also a ruthless assassin.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
The genteel and old-timey rooms start at $239 in late fall.
—Abbie Kozolchyk, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2024
There were still three and a half hours to go before kick-off, but the noise ricocheted off the genteel peach-and-cream facades of Leipzig’s townhouses.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for genteel 
Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
Helen is this fascinating contradiction — a genteel Tory wife who is also a ruthless assassin.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
The genteel and old-timey rooms start at $239 in late fall.
—Abbie Kozolchyk, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2024
There were still three and a half hours to go before kick-off, but the noise ricocheted off the genteel peach-and-cream facades of Leipzig’s townhouses.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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Upon arrival in Key West, the group exchanges polite greetings, but the underlying tension is palpable.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2025
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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
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Unlike his sister Athena (who was associated with military strategy and other relatively civilized aspects of warfare), Ares represented pure savagery.—
Cody Cottier,
Discover Magazine,
20 Jan. 2025
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But the story being told and the decidedly not civilized setting seems to demand the graphic approach.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Their attire and posture radiated an iconic, aristocratic style, exemplified by Vance's wife, who stood elegantly in her rose-pitch dress coat.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
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Despite the name, Palace hotels aren’t always centuries-old aristocratic mansions, and many feel thoroughly modern.—
Mary Winston Nicklin,
AFAR Media,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Samia is quick to accept the break-up, even gracious.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
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The courtyard was essential, a way for mostly Jewish immigrants to replace the tenement’s narrow, stinking air shaft with a form of genuinely gracious living.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Reacting to the decision by the Trump administration to close the U.S. visa section of the embassy in Colombia, Petro said there are thousands of Americans living in Colombia without proper documentation.—
Sonia Osorio,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
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This will allow for proper healing and closure of the wound.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But when the rich and cultured Princess Casamassima befriends him, Hyacinth becomes enamored of her lifestyle.—
Max Chapnick,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2025
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Remember, buttermilk is already cultured and tangy, so a little age isn't a deal breaker.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But as his latest shows, noble principles about the protection of wildlife and animals don’t automatically translate to a good screenplay or a watchable movie.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
17 Jan. 2025
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For spring 2025, Loro Piana switched its focus from cashmere to linen, crowned as the noble fiber of the season.—
Luisa Zargani,
WWD,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Trump's directive gives all federal agencies a 60-day window to identify civil and criminal authorities available to combat antisemitism and deport anti-Jewish activists who broke any laws.—
Fox News Staff,
Fox News,
30 Jan. 2025
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In the 15th Appellate District, which has special statewide jurisdiction in civil cases, salaries range from $163,000 to $205,380.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near genteel
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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