politeness
Considerate social behavior
Politeness is considerate behavior toward others—following social conventions that show respect and avoid giving offense.
It encompasses saying please and thank you, waiting your turn, and softening requests: Would you mind closing the window?
Politeness varies by culture; what's polite in one place may seem cold or excessive elsewhere.
The word can carry a hint of superficiality—someone may be polite without being warm or genuine.
Respectful, considerate behavior
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- decorumFitting social conduct
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
- mannersCustoms of polite conduct
civility · protocol · formality · table manners · greeting · deference · gallantry · chivalry
Effortless beauty of motion
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
- charmAttractive personal quality
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
- dignityInnate personal worth
gentility · sophistication · affability · cordiality · amiability · congeniality · warmth · geniality
Regard with honor
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
consideration · humility · modesty · selflessness · patience · gentleness · forbearance · benevolence
Yielding to another's judgment
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- admirationDeep respect felt
recognition · appreciation · acknowledgment · consideration · homage · tribute · regard · veneration
Language-in-context study
- faceHead's anterior surface
- honorificsRespectful name additions
- indirectnessLack of straightforwardness
- hedgingNoncommittal maneuvering
turn-taking · discourse · register · formality · mitigation · softening · T-V distinction
Sensitivity in speech
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- subtletyFine distinction, easily missed
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
prudence · circumspection · nuance · understatement · carefulness · judgment · negotiation · mediation
courtesy
Respectful, considerate behavior
manners · civility · protocol · formality · table manners · greeting · deference · gallantry · chivalry · genteelness
grace
Effortless beauty of motion
dignity · gentility · sophistication · affability · cordiality · amiability · congeniality · warmth · geniality · approachability
respect
Regard with honor
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
sensitivity · consideration · humility · modesty · selflessness · patience · gentleness · forbearance · benevolence · graciousness
deference
Yielding to another's judgment
admiration · recognition · appreciation · acknowledgment · consideration · homage · tribute · regard · veneration · obeisance
pragmatics
Language-in-context study
- faceHead's anterior surface
- honorificsRespectful name additions
- indirectnessLack of straightforwardness
hedging · turn-taking · discourse · register · formality · mitigation · softening · T-V distinction
tact
Sensitivity in speech
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- subtletyFine distinction, easily missed
finesse · prudence · circumspection · nuance · understatement · carefulness · judgment · negotiation · mediation · dialogue
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
- social skillssocial skills, conversation, sharing, helping, listening
- courtesycivility, decorum, etiquette, good manners, manners
- etiquettemanners, etiquette, table manners, courtesy, civility
- likable traitsfriendliness, amiability, affability, agreeableness, likability
- positive traitskindness, honesty, patience, generosity, compassion
politenessrudeness
Disrespectful social behavior
impoliteness · discourtesy · incivility · disrespect · boorishness
politenessinformality
Relaxed, unofficial tone
casualness · familiarity · relaxedness · looseness · breeziness
politenessbluntness
Frank, unvarnished manner
tactlessness · directness · frankness · candor · brusqueness
- British politenessIndirect, self-deprecating courtesy