
Genteel
Ostentatious Tone
Used to imply that someone might be showing off their polite behavior in a superficial way.

His genteel compliments felt a bit too rehearsed.
Mockery Avoidance
Be cautious; using 'genteel' could suggest insincerity when describing someone too eagerly polite.

Her genteel gestures at the gala didn't fool anyone.
Historical Context
Often used to describe behaviors fitting the 18th or 19th-century polite society expectations.

He acted in a genteel manner, as if from a Jane Austen novel.
Compare with
CourteousCultureElegantGracefulPolishProperRefineSophisticated
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