Gracious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Gracious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations

   "a gracious host who goes out of his way to make every guest feel welcome"

   similar: affable, cordial, genial, hospitable, sociable
   related: agreeable, amiable, benign, benignant, congenial, convivial, friendly, kind, kindly, neighborly, accommodating, obliging, considerate, courteous, polite, thoughtful, cosmopolitan, sophisticated, urbane, approachable, attentive, outgoing
   opposite: inhospitable, ungenial, ungracious, unsociable
   near: boorish, churlish, abrupt, blunt, brusque, curt, gruff, sharp, snippy, antisocial, disagreeable, discourteous, ill-mannered, impolite, rude, sullen, surly, uncivil, unfriendly, unkind, unmannerly, crabbed, crabby, cross, crusty, grumpy

2. having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations

   "a gracious innkeeper whose jokes and laughter made weary travelers feel right at home"

   similar: affable, agreeable, amiable, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, mellow, nice, pleasant, sweet, well-disposed
   related: amicable, clever (dialect), cordial, friendly, neighborly, benign, gentle, kind, cheerful, cheery, glad (archaic), sunny, companionable, conversable, sociable, civil, considerate, courteous, polite, thoughtful, accommodating, amenable, obliging, attractive, delightful, enjoyable, likable
   opposite: disagreeable, ill-natured, ill-tempered, unamiable, ungenial, ungracious, unpleasant
   near: boorish, discourteous, ill-mannered, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, surly, uncivil, unkind, unmannerly, unsociable, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, choleric, churlish, crabby, cranky, dyspeptic, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, ill-humored, irascible, irritable, peevish, petulant, quick-tempered, snappish, testy, touchy, argumentative, contentious, contrary, ornery, querulous, unappealing, unattractive, sour, vinegary

3. showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners

   "he was a gracious man, habitually offering his seat on the bus to elderly women"

   similar: civil, courteous, genteel, mannerly, polite, well-bred
   related: attentive, careful, considerate, nice, solicitous, thoughtful, chivalrous, civilized, courtly, gallant, gentlemanlike, gentlemanly, ladylike, ceremonial, ceremonious, red-carpet, couth, formal, smooth, suave, unctuous, urbane, elegant, refined, deferential, dutiful, respectful, submissive, yielding, acceptable, appropriate, becoming, befitting, comme il faut, correct, decent, decorous, fit, fitting, good, meet, proper, respectable, right, seemly, suitable, affable, cordial, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant, sociable, felicitous, graceful, demure, humble, meek, modest, unassertive
   opposite: discourteous, ill-bred, ill-mannered, impolite, inconsiderate, mannerless, rude, thoughtless, uncivil, ungenteel, ungracious, unmannered, unmannerly
   near: heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, audacious, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassy, disrespectful, impertinent, impudent, insolent, lippy, saucy, shameless, boorish, churlish, clodhopping, clownish, loutish, uncouth, vulgar, casual, informal, unceremonious, improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, uncalled-for, unrespectable, unseemly, arrogant, conceited, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious