polite
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.
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Since he was expecting a response, I was forced into being uncharacteristically polite.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
During his two-plus years in office, Benn became known among journalists for being incredibly polite and approachable.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The hope is to become a "big fish" who mediates between the grunts and those with cash, maybe even entering polite society.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
We’re going to do the polite thing here and maintain the yellow jersey is in play.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
He was struggling for words, trying to think of a polite excuse to leave.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Bravo responded with a politer version in “Top Chef.”
From Salon ● Jan. 30, 2026
An 18-year-old woman said ghosting was “a little bit politer way to reject someone than to directly say, ‘I do not want to chat with you.’
From Washington Post ● Jul. 25, 2022
And the video has so many star cameos it feels like a politer version of that misbegotten cover of “Imagine.”
From Slate ● Jun. 12, 2020
She admires various classical and modern dancers and choreographers and works, but her own dancers enact a brash and pitiless system of movement that disdains and subverts politer forms.
From The New Yorker ● Jun. 22, 2015
It seemed politer to sit still and to speak when he was spoken to.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
“The politest way is to enlist the aid of the flight attendants,” says Jodi RR Smith, an etiquette consultant.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 26, 2024
When confronted about these statements by a reporter, McCain defended the use of the term, saying it was the politest term he could think of.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2021
This was an extended hand from a man I have come to think of as my politest critic.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 2, 2019
Researchers have detailed the difficulty of confronting prejudice, but they have also found that even the politest of objections – or subtle corrections to loaded words – can almost instantly curb a speaker’s behavior.
From New York Times ● Oct. 12, 2016
“Not at all. Hank is the politest kid I’ve ever met, and Boo is a hoot,” Ray says.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
Vocabulary lists containing polite
Real Nice!
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"Kids Like Me: Voices of the Immigrant Experience"
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Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
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