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Polite synonyms
pə-līt'
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civil
Of ordinary citizens or ordinary community life as distinguished from the military or the ecclesiastical:
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  1. Of ordinary citizens or ordinary community life as distinguished from the military or the ecclesiastical:
  2. Of or relating to citizens and their interrelations with one another or with the state:
  3. Sufficiently observing or befitting accepted social usages; polite:
thoughtful
Given to careful thought; reflective:
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  1. Given to careful thought; reflective:
  2. Full of thought; meditative; thinking
  3. Heedful, careful, attentive, etc.; esp., considerate of others; kind
mannerly
Having or showing good manners; well-behaved; polite; courteous
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  1. Having or showing good manners; well-behaved; polite; courteous
attentive
Paying close attention; alert or observant:
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  1. Paying close attention; alert or observant:
  2. Showing care for the needs or desires of others; caring or courteous.
  3. Paying attention; noticing, watching, listening, or attending closely
pleasant
Pleasing in manner, behavior, or appearance.
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  1. Pleasing in manner, behavior, or appearance.
  2. Giving pleasure; pleasing in manner.
  3. Giving or affording pleasure or enjoyment; agreeable:
gentle
Of good family; wellborn:
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  1. Of good family; wellborn:
  2. Suited to one of good breeding; refined and polite:
  3. Generous; kind
mild
Moderate in type, degree, effect, or force:
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  1. Moderate in type, degree, effect, or force:
  2. Gentle or kind in disposition, action, or effect; not severe, harsh, bitter, etc.
  3. Gentle or kind in disposition, manners, or behavior.
affable
Gentle and kindly
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  1. Gentle and kindly
  2. Pleasant and easy to approach or talk to; friendly
attentive
Paying close attention; alert or observant:
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  1. Paying close attention; alert or observant:
  2. Showing care for the needs or desires of others; caring or courteous.
  3. Paying attention; noticing, watching, listening, or attending closely
courteous
Characterized by gracious consideration toward others.
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  1. Characterized by gracious consideration toward others.
  2. Showing regard or thought for others; especially, displaying good manners or etiquette.
obliging
Ready to do favors; helpful; courteous; accommodating
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  1. Ready to do favors; helpful; courteous; accommodating
  2. Happy and ready to do favours for others.
nice
Having a pleasant or attractive appearance:
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  1. Having a pleasant or attractive appearance:
  2. Kind and considerate
  3. Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle:
considerate
(Archaic) Characterized by careful thought; deliberate.
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  1. (Archaic) Characterized by careful thought; deliberate.
  2. Consciously thoughtful and observant (often of other people); caring
  3. Having or showing regard for the needs or feelings of others.
solicitous
(Archaic) Full of desire; eager:
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  1. (Archaic) Full of desire; eager:
  2. Expressing care or concern for another:
  3. Showing great attention or concern to another:
conciliatory
Tending to conciliate or reconcile
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  1. Tending to conciliate or reconcile
  2. Willing to conciliate, or to make concessions
bland
Tasteless, insipid, dull, etc.
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  1. Tasteless, insipid, dull, etc.
  2. Exhibiting no personal worry, embarrassment, or concern:
  3. Having little or no distinctive flavor:
amiable
(Obs.) Lovely or lovable
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  1. (Obs.) Lovely or lovable
  2. Cordial; sociable; congenial:
  3. Having a pleasant and friendly disposition; good-natured
gracious
Condescendingly courteous; indulgent:
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  1. Condescendingly courteous; indulgent:
  2. Characterized by elegance and good taste:
  3. Merciful or compassionate. Used especially of God in Christianity and Islam.
cordial
Polite and respectful; formally pleasant:
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  1. Polite and respectful; formally pleasant:
  2. Warm and sincere; friendly:
  3. (Archaic) Invigorating; stimulating. Used especially of a beverage.
good-natured
Alternative spelling of good-natured.
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  1. Alternative spelling of good-natured.
  2. Having or showing good nature; pleasant; agreeable; affable
  3. Of or pertaining to a perpetual kind disposition.
sympathetic
In agreement with one's tastes, mood, feelings, disposition, etc.; congenial
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  1. In agreement with one's tastes, mood, feelings, disposition, etc.; congenial
  2. Relating to or being vibrations, especially musical tones, produced in one body by energy from a nearby vibrating body and having the same frequency as the vibration of the nearby body.
  3. Relating to, expressing, feeling, or resulting from sympathy:
interested
Having or showing curiosity, fascination, or concern:
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  1. Having or showing curiosity, fascination, or concern:
  2. Possessing a right, claim, or stake:
  3. Having or showing interest.
smooth
Having no obstructions or difficulties:
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  1. Having no obstructions or difficulties:
  2. Free from hair, whiskers, or stubble:
  3. Having an even or gentle motion or movement:
chivalrous
Involving chivalry
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  1. Involving chivalry
  2. (Of a man) honourable, especially to women.
  3. Having the qualities of gallantry and honor attributed to an ideal knight.
gallant
Having to do with love; amorous
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  1. Having to do with love; amorous
  2. Nobly or selflessly resolute:
  3. Smartly or boldly stylish; dashing:
diplomatic
Describing a publication of a text which follows a single basic manuscript, but with variants in other manuscripts noted in the critical apparatus
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  1. Describing a publication of a text which follows a single basic manuscript, but with variants in other manuscripts noted in the critical apparatus
  2. Exhibiting diplomacy; exercising tact or courtesy; using discussion to avoid hard feelings, fights or arguments.
  3. Using or marked by tact and sensitivity in dealing with others.
tactful
Having or showing tact
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  1. Having or showing tact
  2. Possessing tact; able to deal with people in a sensitive manner.
  3. Possessing or exhibiting tact; considerate and discreet:
politic
(Archaic) Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious
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  1. (Archaic) Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious
  2. (Archaic) Relating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong; said of things.
  3. (Archaic) Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political.
benign
Not life-threatening or severe, and likely to respond to treatment, as a tumor that is not malignant.
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  1. Not life-threatening or severe, and likely to respond to treatment, as a tumor that is not malignant.
  2. Having little or no detrimental effect; harmless:
  3. Gentle or kind:
propitiatory
Of or offered in propitiation; conciliatory.
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  1. Of or offered in propitiation; conciliatory.
kindly
Of a sympathetic, helpful, or benevolent nature:
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  1. Of a sympathetic, helpful, or benevolent nature:
  2. (--- Obsolete) Natural to its kind.
  3. Kind; gracious; benign
kind
Agreeable or beneficial:
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  1. Agreeable or beneficial:
  2. Sympathetic, friendly, gentle, tenderhearted, generous, etc.
  3. Gentle; tractable; easily governed.
courtly
Suitable for a king's court; dignified, polite, elegant, etc.
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  1. Suitable for a king's court; dignified, polite, elegant, etc.
  2. Suitable for a royal court; stately:
  3. Flattering, esp. in an obsequious way
benignant
Favorable; beneficial.
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  1. Favorable; beneficial.
  2. Kindly or gracious, sometimes in a patronizing way
  3. (Now rare) Kind; gracious; favorable.
agreeable
In pursuance, conformity, or accordance; used adverbially
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  1. In pursuance, conformity, or accordance; used adverbially
  2. Pleasing, either to the mind or senses; pleasant; grateful.
  3. Agreeing or suitable; conformable; correspondent; concordant; adapted; followed by to, or rarely by with.
respectful
Full of or characterized by respect; showing deference or dutiful regard
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  1. Full of or characterized by respect; showing deference or dutiful regard
  2. Showing or marked by proper respect.
amenable
Willing to accept a suggestion or submit to authority:
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  1. Willing to accept a suggestion or submit to authority:
  2. Legally answerable; required to respond; responsible; subject to.
  3. Ready to consent; agreeable:
well-bred
Raised to be well-mannered and refined.
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  1. Raised to be well-mannered and refined.
  2. Alternative form of well-bred.
  3. Born to parents considered to be of good stock. Used of animals.
genteel
Refined or polite, often in an affected way:
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  1. Refined or polite, often in an affected way:
  2. Affectedly proper or refined; somewhat prudish refinement; excessively polite.
  3. Having or showing the good taste and refinement associated with polite society; elegant, fashionable, etc.
gentlemanly
Of, being, pertaining to, or resembling a gentleman or gentlemen.
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  1. Of, being, pertaining to, or resembling a gentleman or gentlemen.
  2. Of, characteristic of, or fit for a gentleman; well-mannered
well-mannered
Polite; courteous.
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  1. Polite; courteous.
  2. Alternative spelling of well-mannered.
  3. Having good manners; polite, courteous, and socially correct; conforming to standards of good behaviour.
well-spoken
Chosen or expressed with aptness or propriety.
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  1. Chosen or expressed with aptness or propriety.
  2. Speaking easily or fluently
  3. Eloquent and able with regards to speech.
ceremonious
Full of ceremony
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  1. Full of ceremony
  2. In accord with prescribed or customary usage; rigidly formal.
  3. Excessively formal or proper
formal
Designed for use or wear at ceremonies, elaborate parties, etc.
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  1. Designed for use or wear at ceremonies, elaborate parties, etc.
  2. Having the appearance of being suitable, correct, etc., but not really so
  3. Following or being in accord with accepted or prescribed forms, conventions, or regulations:
proper
Worthy of the name; true:
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  1. Worthy of the name; true:
  2. Called for by rules or conventions; correct:
  3. Characteristically belonging to the being or thing in question; peculiar:
punctilious
Very careful about every detail of behavior, ceremony, etc.
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  1. Very careful about every detail of behavior, ceremony, etc.
  2. Strictly attentive to minute details of form in action or conduct.
  3. Strictly attentive to detail; meticulous or fastidious, particularly to codes or conventions.
sociable
Enjoying or requiring the company of others; gregarious
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  1. Enjoying or requiring the company of others; gregarious
  2. Offering opportunities for conversation; characterized by much conversation.
  3. Tending to socialize or be social; friendly; inviting; congenial.
ingratiating
Pleasing; agreeable:
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  1. Pleasing; agreeable:
  2. Calculated to please or win favor:
  3. Which ingratiates; which attempts to bring oneself into the favour of another. The implication is often of flattery or insincerity.
neighborly
Having or exhibiting the qualities of a friendly neighbor.
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  1. Having or exhibiting the qualities of a friendly neighbor.
  2. Like, characteristic of, or appropriate to neighbors; kind, friendly, sociable, etc.
friendly
Like, characteristic of, or suitable for a friend, friends, or friendship; kindly
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  1. Like, characteristic of, or suitable for a friend, friends, or friendship; kindly
  2. Showing friendly feelings; ready to be a friend
  3. (--- Informal) Easy to understand or use for a specified agent. Often used in combination:
polished
Elegant; refined
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  1. Elegant; refined
  2. Refined, elegant.
  3. Refined or sophisticated:
well-bred
Raised to be well-mannered and refined.
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  1. Raised to be well-mannered and refined.
  2. Alternative form of well-bred.
  3. Born to parents considered to be of good stock. Used of animals.
cultured
Artificially developed.
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  1. Artificially developed.
  2. Produced under artificial and controlled conditions:
  3. Educated, polished, and refined; cultivated.
urbane
Polite and courteous in a smooth, polished way; refined
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  1. Polite and courteous in a smooth, polished way; refined
  2. Polite, refined, and often elegant in manner.
considerate
Consciously thoughtful and observant (often of other people); caring
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  1. Consciously thoughtful and observant (often of other people); caring
  2. Having or showing regard for others and their feelings; thoughtful
  3. Characterised by careful and conscious thought; deliberate
courteous
Characterized by gracious consideration toward others.
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  1. Characterized by gracious consideration toward others.
  2. Showing regard or thought for others; especially, displaying good manners or etiquette.
gallant
Smartly or boldly stylish; dashing:
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  1. Smartly or boldly stylish; dashing:
  2. Polite and attentive to women in a courtly way
  3. Having to do with love; amorous
solicitous
Showing great care; careful or meticulous:
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  1. Showing great care; careful or meticulous:
  2. Expressing care or concern for another:
  3. Showing great attention or concern to another:
thoughtful
Engrossed in thought:
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  1. Engrossed in thought:
  2. Heedful, careful, attentive, etc.; esp., considerate of others; kind
  3. Exhibiting or characterized by careful thought:
civil
Of ordinary citizens or ordinary community life as distinguished from the military or the ecclesiastical:
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  1. Of ordinary citizens or ordinary community life as distinguished from the military or the ecclesiastical:
  2. (Law) Of or according to Roman civil law or modern civil law
  3. Of, relating to, or befitting a citizen or citizens:
courteous
Characterized by gracious consideration toward others.
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  1. Characterized by gracious consideration toward others.
  2. Showing regard or thought for others; especially, displaying good manners or etiquette.
genteel
Having or showing the good taste and refinement associated with polite society; elegant, fashionable, etc.
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  1. Having or showing the good taste and refinement associated with polite society; elegant, fashionable, etc.
  2. Elegantly stylish or fashionable:
  3. Aristocratic
mannerly
Having or showing good manners; well-behaved; polite; courteous
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  1. Having or showing good manners; well-behaved; polite; courteous
well-bred
Born to parents considered to be of good stock. Used of animals.
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  1. Born to parents considered to be of good stock. Used of animals.
  2. Alternative form of well-bred.
  3. Raised to be well-mannered and refined.
well-mannered
Alternative spelling of well-mannered.
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  1. Alternative spelling of well-mannered.
  2. Polite; courteous.
  3. Having good manners; polite, courteous, and socially correct; conforming to standards of good behaviour.
treat well (related)
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    complaisant
    Exhibiting a desire or willingness to please; cheerfully obliging.
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    1. Exhibiting a desire or willingness to please; cheerfully obliging.

    Synonym Study

    • Gallant suggests a dashing display of courtesy, esp. to women her gallant lover
    • Chivalrous implies disinterested courtesy toward women or devotion to the cause of the weak
    • Civil implies merely a refraining from rudeness keep a civil tongue in your head
    • Courteous suggests a still more positive and sincere graciousness toward others that springs from an inherent thoughtfulness always courteous to strangers
    • Polite suggests a positive observance of etiquette in social behavior it is not polite to interrupt
    Find another word for polite. In this page you can discover 75 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for polite, like: civil, thoughtful, mannerly, attentive, pleasant, gentle, mild, affable, attentive, courteous and obliging.

    Sentence Examples

    • I guess I wasn't very polite, making a face like that.

    • His polite address terrified her.

    • His smile was polite, but the eyes held a glint of humor.

    • But they were polite, to a man.

    • Another, Daniel Neal, in 1720, found Boston conversation " as polite as in most of the cities and towns in England, many of their merchants having the advantage of a free conversation with travellers; so that a gentleman from London would almost think himself at home at Boston, when he observes the number of people, their houses, their furniture, their tables, their dress and conversation, which perhaps is as splendid and showy as that of the most considerable tradesmen in London."

    More sentences →

    Words that mention polite in the Dictionary

    Words near polite in the Thesaurus