polite

[puh-lahyt] / pəˈlaɪt /

ADJECTIVE

mannerly, civilized

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affable amiable attentive civil conciliatory considerate cordial courteous courtly deferential diplomatic friendly genteel gentle good-natured gracious neighborly pleasant respectful sociable sympathetic thoughtful well-behaved well-mannered

WEAK

amenable bland complaisant concerned condescending cultured elegant mild nice obliging obsequious polished politic punctilious refined smooth solicitous urbane well-bred

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aloof antagonistic callous cold cool disagreeable discourteous disrespectful hateful heedless impolite inattentive inconsiderate mean nasty rough rude surly thoughtless uncaring uncivil unfeeling unfriendly unkind unmannerly unmindful unpleasant unrefined unsociable

WEAK

uncivilized unsophisticated

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A refinery that runs out of crude doesn’t post a polite quarterly loss.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

You are not politically correct and don’t necessarily belong always in polite society.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

He was well spoken and polite, so his bosses soon began sending him on the most important jobs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

“My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note,” she said.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

He was always polite, but his expectations for others in the organization were high, Ophelia told me.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Vocabulary lists containing polite

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Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

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