genteel
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.gen·teel
adjective \jen-ˈtēl\Definition of GENTEEL
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2
a : maintaining or striving to maintain the appearance of superior or middle-class social status or respectability b (1) : marked by false delicacy, prudery, or affectation (2) : conventionally or insipidly pretty <timid and genteel artistic style>
— gen·teel·ly \-ˈtē(l)-lē\ adverb
— gen·teel·ness noun
See Examples of GENTEEL
- a person of genteel upbringing
- She was born into a genteel family.
- an elderly woman living in genteel poverty
- speaking in a genteel accent
- They lived in a more genteel era.
- the genteel manners of an old southern gentleman
Origin of GENTEEL
Middle French gentil gentle
First Known Use: 1599
Related to GENTEEL
- Synonyms
- befitting, correct, decent, decorous, de rigueur, proper, nice, polite, respectable, seemly
- Antonyms
- improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, indelicate, unbecoming, ungenteel, unseemly
Rhymes with GENTEEL
aiguille, all-wheel, anneal, appeal, big deal, big wheel, bilge keel, bonemeal, bonspiel, cam wheel, Castile, cartwheel, chainwheel, chenille, cogwheel, conceal, congeal, cornmeal, done deal, eared seal, enwheel, fifth wheel, fish meal, flywheel, forefeel, for real, four-wheel, freewheel, fur seal, get real, good deal, great seal, handwheel, harp seal, ideal, inchmeal, mild steel, mill wheel, misdeal, mobile, Mobile, monk seal, mouthfeel, New Deal, newsreel, nosewheel, oatmeal, O'Neal, pastille, piecemeal, pinwheel, prayer wheel, raw deal, repeal, reveal, schlemiel, self-heal, side-wheel, singspiel, somedeal, spike heel, stabile, tahsil, Tar Heel, thumbwheel, unreel, unseal, worm wheel
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