You should try to be more polite.
Source: tatoeba (17646)
Polite
/pəˈlaɪt/
Synonyms for "polite" (187 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (38)
Adjective(19 words)
civilacceptable ssnaddressing systemappropriateappropriate behaviorcalm disagreementcheerfulcivic framework guidelinescivil casecivil conflictcivil discourse improvementcivil lifecivil order guidelinecivil orderlinesscivil orderscivil progress policycivil progress reportcivil progressescivil-progressive
Determiner(1 words)
a more civilized world
Verb(2 words)
behave civilly in classbehaved
Noun(7 words)
business meetingcivil calmcivil lawscivil ordercivil orderedcivil servantcivil suit
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (56)
Adjective(28 words)
civil-progressivelycivilisedcivilizedcivilized communitiescivilized countrycivilized debatecivilized discoursecivilized mannercivilized mannerscivilized personcivilized societycivilized worldclassyconsideratecourteouscourteous tonecourtliercourtliestcultivatedcultured
Show 8 more words
Adjective(5 words)
Noun(9 words)
civilized conductcivilly orderedcommon phrases in portuguesecortesescourteous remarkcourteous tonescurtseyingcustomary law normsdutch civiel
Verb(1 words)
Related words (93)
Adjective(33 words)
formal englishformal guidelineformal italianformal languagesformal languages examplesformal logicsformal modelformal permissiongenteelgraciousitalian civile conceptsladylikemanneredmannerlynice exclamationnonsaltypolished finishpolite declinepolite intensifier effectprofessional jargon
Show 13 more words
proper filingproper inferenceproper ssnpublic behaviorrespectful interactionrespectful responserespectful talkrespectful wordingstaged smiletactfultactful behavioruniversal politenesswell-spoken
gallantgenteelgracefulgraciousladylikemannerlyniceobligingorderlypleasantpolishedpresentableproperrespectfulshrewdsmoothsolicitoussuavetactfultasteful
Show 3 more words
Noun(21 words)
gallantgentle remindergentleman s agreementgood conductgood mannershedging modifierhonorificlittle white liemincingmore civilmore customarymore euphemisticmore officialmost civilpolish numerycznyquestion phrasingrespectful demeanorself censor languagespanish formalwell mannered
Show 1 more word
well mannered person
Adjective(11 words)
Preposition(1 words)
in a civilized manner
Verb(1 words)
Adverb(2 words)
more civil progressmore civil progresses
Determiner(1 words)
most civil progress index
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: civil, a more civilized world, acceptable ssn, accommodating, addressing system.
- Sentence evidence is available for polite, 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 "polite".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "polite"
Keep "polite" 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 "polite" 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 "polite", 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 "polite" 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
3 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriespolite conversationpolite greetingpolite languagepolite requestpolite societypolite tone
Inflections
2 entriesmore politemost polite
Derivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
6 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
It was just polite applause.
Source: tatoeba (20028)
You cannot be too polite when you meet the president.
Source: tatoeba (22348)
You must be more polite.
Source: tatoeba (30359)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "polite"?
Closest matches include civil, a more civilized world, acceptable ssn, accommodating, addressing system.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "polite"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.