You must be courteous to any guest.
Source: tatoeba (69812)
Courteous
/ˈkɜːti.əs/
Synonyms for "courteous" (166 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (34)
Adjective(13 words)
graciousappropriate behaviorchivalrouscivilcivil casecivil conflictcivil discourse improvementcivil lifecivil order guidelinecivil orderscivil progress policycivil progress reportcivil progresses
Determiner(1 words)
a more civilized world
Verb(1 words)
behave civilly in class
Strong matches (49)
Noun(6 words)
Adjective(16 words)
civil-progressingcivilized communitiescivilized countrycivilized debatecivilized discoursecivilized mannercivilized mannerscivilized personcivilized societycivilized worldclassycommon social virtueconsideratecourtliestcultured behavioresteemed institution
Verb(1 words)
Related words (83)
Noun(13 words)
gentle remindergentleman s agreementgood mannershandshakingmore civilmore customarymost civilmost polite intensifierquestion phrasingrespectful demeanorspanish formalwell manneredwell mannered person
Preposition(1 words)
in a civilized manner
Adjective(33 words)
italian civile conceptsknightlymannerednicenice exclamationpolitepolite behaviorpolite behavior guidelinespolite clarificationpolite declinepolite discoursepolite environmentpolite intensifier effectpolite intensifier usagepolite mannerpolite requestpolite smilepolite stylepoliterpolitest
Show 13 more words
professional demeanorprofessional jargonproper filingproper inferenceproper ssnrespectful interactionrespectful responserespectful talkrespectful wordingreverentsportsmanlikeuniversal politenesswell-spoken
Adverb(2 words)
more civil progressmore civil progresses
Determiner(1 words)
most civil progress index
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: gracious, a more civilized world, accommodating, affable, agreeable.
- Sentence evidence is available for courteous, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "courteous".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "courteous"
Keep "courteous" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "courteous" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "courteous", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "courteous" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesMore specific
2 entriesformal courtesypolite gesture
Collocations
6 entriescourteous gesturecourteous greetingcourteous mannerscourteous replycourteous servicecourteous tone
Inflections
2 entriesmore courteousmost courteous
Derivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
5 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
It is very courteous of you to call on me.
Source: tatoeba (321083)
It was courteous of him to write a letter of thanks.
Source: tatoeba (326097)
So characteristic of what a pious Christian would say, this courteous phrase.
Source: tatoeba (328518)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "courteous"?
Closest matches include gracious, a more civilized world, accommodating, affable, agreeable.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "courteous"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.