First Known Use: 1599
Dictionary
genteel
adjective gen·teel \jen-ˈtēl\
: of or relating to people who have high social status
: pretending or trying to have the qualities and manners of people who have high social status
: having a quietly appealing or polite quality
Full Definition of GENTEEL
1
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 genteel defined for English-language learners
See genteel defined for kids
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Origin of GENTEEL
Middle French gentil gentle
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
GENTEELNESS Defined for Kids
genteel
adjective gen·teel \jen-ˈtēl\
Definition of GENTEEL for Kids
1
: relating to the upper classes <a genteel family>
2
: having an elegant, tasteful, or polite quality <genteel behavior>
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