Definitions

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.

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

It is impossible to imagine what the author would have made of the decades that followed; he belonged, inescapably, to the polite world he had spent his life describing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

They are polite background noise — the culinary equivalent of a cubicle in a Schaumburg office park.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Sometimes the kids started interrupting their dad or mom, but Mr. Morales just reminded them that they could be polite if they tried.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

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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