courteous

[kur-tee-uhs] / ˈkɜr ti əs /

ADJECTIVE

gentle, mannerly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affable attentive civil civilized considerate courtly gracious polite respectful soft-spoken thoughtful well-behaved well-mannered well-spoken

WEAK

ceremonious complaisant cultivated debonair elegant gallant genteel polished refined suave urbane well-bred

Antonyms

STRONGEST

discourteous disrespectful heedless impolite inattentive inconsiderate mean rude thoughtless uncivil unkind unmannerly unmindful unrefined

WEAK

bad-mannered uncourteous

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.

Robinson has urged his attendees not to wear masks or drink excessive alcohol, and to be "peaceful and courteous".

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

Remember to be a courteous visitor when viewing wildflowers.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Bridger was described by those who knew him as "always confident, courteous and charming" but when police seized his computer, a sordid secret was revealed.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

While we should all try to be courteous and get along, part of maturity is realizing that you won’t click with everyone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

‘The Halflings are courteous folk, whatever else they be,’ said Faramir.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

Vocabulary lists containing courteous

The Diary of Anne Frank

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Be Nice!

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

More Positive Words to Describe a Person

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!