Synonyms of politeness

politeness

noun

1

as in manners

speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding

the little girl's politeness greatly impressed her teacher

Synonyms & Similar Words

• manners
• attentiveness
• gallantry
• courteousness
• elegance
• civility
• thoughtfulness
• courtesy
• hospitality
• gentility
• graciousness
• gracefulness
• mannerliness
• respectability
• genteelness
• respect
• gentlemanliness
• chivalry
• consideration
• refinement
• courtliness
• ceremony
• decorum
• urbanity
• deference
• breeding
• formality
• politesse
• friendliness
• cordiality
• ceremoniousness
• sociability
• geniality
• knighthood
• suaveness
• humility
• knightliness
• affability
• decency
• seemliness
• meekness
• decorousness
• chivalrousness
• ceremonialness
• modesty
• gentilesse
• unctuousness
• propriety
• shyness
• polish
• felicitousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rudeness
• impoliteness
• incivility
• discourtesy
• disrespect
• surliness
• boldness
• insolence
• audacity
• impudence
• impertinence
• brashness
• shamelessness
• vulgarity
• boorishness
• sauciness
• informality
• casualness
• churlishness
• ungraciousness
• delinquency
• discourteousness
• inappropriateness
• audaciousness
• impropriety
• presumption
• arrogance
• indecency
• incorrectness
• thoughtlessness
• brassiness
• clownishness
• loutishness
• conceit
• pretentiousness
• inconsiderateness
• inconsideration
• improperness

2

as in gesture

an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners

inquiring after his wife was a simple politeness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gesture
• courtesy
• manners
• civility
• formality
• etiquette
• attention
• ritual
• rules
• ceremony
• pleasantry
• kindness
• amenity
• greetings
• decorum
• rite
• observance
• respects
• honors
• regards
• kindliness
• proprieties
• grace
• mores
• form
• protocol
• favor
• addresses
• devoirs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of politeness

There’s a certain kind of gentility and politeness, and then on the flip side, dark humor and grotesquerie. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Is the nation’s vaunted politeness actually just passive-aggressiveness? — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2026

The dynamic between the parents and the perpetrators steadily escalates from politeness to hostility to eventual torture, all while maintaining a frustrating attitude of inevitability and justification toward the former’s fate. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026

She’s used to chief stews who yell and is thrown off by Aesha’s politeness. — Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Southworth started focusing more specifically on civility, decency, and politeness after COVID, when many employees were fleeing the hospitality industry—all while the membership at their clubs was doubling. — Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

The board member who survives every conversation about them has been preserved not by respect but by politeness. — Audrey Russo, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Good bathroom etiquette here is less about politeness than safety, since a crowded aisle is something the crew would rather avoid. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026

For the most part, CTA personnel act with grace and politeness, although the sour drivers can influence the riders’ experiences as well. — Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026