Genteel

usgb/dʒenˈtiːl/
adjective

Polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or ostentatious way.

She comes from a very genteel family.
Visual representation of "genteel" - Polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or ostentatious way

Often appears as...

  • genteel manner
  • genteel upbringing
Definition 1 of 3
Visual representation of "genteel"
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Ostentatious Tone

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

Illustration for Ostentatious Tone
His genteel compliments felt a bit too rehearsed.
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Mockery Avoidance

Be cautious; using 'genteel' could suggest insincerity when describing someone too eagerly polite.

Illustration for Mockery Avoidance
Her genteel gestures at the gala didn't fool anyone.
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Historical Context

Often used to describe behaviors fitting the 18th or 19th-century polite society expectations.

Illustration for Historical Context
He acted in a genteel manner, as if from a Jane Austen novel.
Visual representation of the word "Genteel"

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