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.

But this is all fictional, or notional if you want to be polite.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Long dismissed as a has-been joke, Pratt correctly judged that Angelenos are angry and don’t want to be polite about it anymore.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

But the old script — be polite, get ignored, lose anyway — is no longer defensible.

From Salon • May 30, 2026

It was only polite to go in and take a look.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Although I arranged my face in a polite mask, I felt I hadn’t given the right answer.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

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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