as in politeness
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Recent Examples of politesse
In 1948, Vogue published its 658-page Book of Etiquette, compiled by editor Millicent Fenwick, featuring how-tos, dos and don’ts, and the proper politesse for a remarkably varied set of scenarios.
—
Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2024
Her body language changes, her voice goes into the upper register of ladylike politesse.
—Jonathan Van Meter, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2024
Decades of French lessons schooled me in the strict rules of politesse.
—Theresa Conroy, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2024
That’s the way it’s done in the Senate, where the politesse of a seemingly bygone political era still reigns supreme.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024
The politesse of reassurance may be desirable and decorous, but U.S. allies are not about to abandon their patron.
—Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
Earlier, the girls had waved off a proffered map with the icy politesse of a Tour de France winner declining training wheels.
—Judith Stone, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
In her interview, Welker seemed fed on the American tradition of treating every politician, even those complicit in an attempt to overturn the democratic tradition, with the utmost in politesse.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023
The avatars onscreen were often just rectangles or blobs, and the concepts had to stay within the bounds of dinner-table politesse.
—Neima Jahromi, The New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2021
Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2024
Her body language changes, her voice goes into the upper register of ladylike politesse.
—Jonathan Van Meter, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2024
Decades of French lessons schooled me in the strict rules of politesse.
—Theresa Conroy, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2024
That’s the way it’s done in the Senate, where the politesse of a seemingly bygone political era still reigns supreme.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024
The politesse of reassurance may be desirable and decorous, but U.S. allies are not about to abandon their patron.
—Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
Earlier, the girls had waved off a proffered map with the icy politesse of a Tour de France winner declining training wheels.
—Judith Stone, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
In her interview, Welker seemed fed on the American tradition of treating every politician, even those complicit in an attempt to overturn the democratic tradition, with the utmost in politesse.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023
The avatars onscreen were often just rectangles or blobs, and the concepts had to stay within the bounds of dinner-table politesse.
—Neima Jahromi, The New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for politesse
Noun
-
Ed’s monstrous behavior under the influence of cortisone shatters the veneer of middle-class gentility to reveal the fault lines repressed beneath it.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2025
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Like Michaels, the band wanted to maintain its nonconformist cred, even though its members were verging on gentility.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The serial killer is the Red Death wearing the mask of civility and friendship.—
S.A. Cosby,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
-
The behavior displayed by Dr. Behrend has raised significant concerns, resulting in multiple meetings, multiple concerns from residents, a review of our security protocols, and engagement with the Human Relations Council to explore a formal code of civility.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Newsweek spoke to etiquette expert Jo Hayes about the colleague's behavior, and what the original poster (OP) should do next.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Each challenge seemed to sound a death knell for going to the movies, from the rise of streaming to current debates over movie-going etiquette.—
Mackenzie Farkus,
The Christian Science Monitor,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Towson trimmed the deficit to 49-42 with 13:04 remaining courtesy of an 8-2 burst.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Mar. 2025
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Jacob and Sophie’s teacher realizes there’s a problem, and puts together an impromptu lesson on basic courtesy in bathrooms.—
Sarah Hoffman and Ian Hoffman,
TIME,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Wittingly or not, nobody embodied this behavior better than Musk, who has spent the past decade operating with a healthy contempt for institutions, any semblance of decorum, and the law.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
28 Feb. 2025
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Disorder again ensued at the Jan. 28 commissioners court meeting, as the court approved a new decorum policy amid opposition from Democrats on the court and several Tarrant County residents who spoke out on the change.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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International Women's Day is a time to recognize the achievements of women and girls everywhere and recommit our efforts to advance dignity, opportunity, and equality for all.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
9 Mar. 2025
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Despite the fact that Baltimore has long battled high crime rates and public safety concerns, ours is a beautiful city full of promise and good people of dignity and integrity.—
Baltimore Sun Editorial Board,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Politesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/politesse. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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