Graciousness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈgrā-shəs/ gra·cious

Meaning & Definition of Graciousness

Graciousness (adjective)

  1. marked by kindness and courtesy
  2. characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, and the customs and manners of polite society
  3. graceful

Graciousness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding

    "at this type of private school, young women would be taught upper-class graciousness"

    similar: civility, courteousness, courtesy, genteelness, gentility, mannerliness, politeness
    related: attentiveness, consideration, thoughtfulness, ceremonialness, ceremoniousness, ceremony, formality, chivalrousness, chivalry, courtliness, gallantry, gentlemanliness, knighthood, knightliness, breeding, manners, suaveness, unctuousness, urbanity, elegance, refinement, deference, respect, decency, decorousness, decorum, gentilesse, polish, politesse, propriety, respectability, seemliness, affability, cordiality, friendliness, geniality, hospitality, sociability, felicitousness, gracefulness, humility, meekness, modesty, shyness
    opposite: discourteousness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, surliness, ungraciousness
    near: audaciousness, audacity, boldness, brashness, brassiness, disrespect, impertinence, impudence, insolence, sauciness, shamelessness, boorishness, churlishness, clownishness, loutishness, vulgarity, casualness, informality, delinquency, improperness, impropriety, inappropriateness, incorrectness, indecency, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness, arrogance, conceit, presumption, pretentiousness

  2. the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others

    "his graciousness and wit kept his fellow diners entertained throughout the meal"

    similar: affability, agreeability, agreeableness, amenity, amiability, amiableness, geniality, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, niceness, personableness, pleasantness, sweetness
    related: amenability, complaisance, mellowness, sweetness and light, amicability, amicableness, amity, cordiality, empressement, friendliness, gemütlichkeit, benignity, gentleness, kindliness, kindness, cheerfulness, cheeriness, sunniness, civility, comity, considerateness, consideration, courteousness, courtesy, politeness, thoughtfulness, attractiveness, delightfulness, enjoyableness, likability, likableness, pleasingness
    opposite: disagreeableness, unpleasantness
    near: boorishness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, ungraciousness, biliousness, cantankerousness, churlishness, crankiness, fussiness, grouchiness, grumpiness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, peevishness, petulance, testiness, contentiousness, contrariness, orneriness, quarrelsomeness, querulousness, hostility, unfriendliness, sourness, vinegar

Related Entry: Gracious (adjective)

Gracious is a different word from Graciousness. The synonyms below are for gracious, not for graciousness.

  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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Graciousness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Graciousness:

civility, courteousness, courtesy, genteelness, gentility, mannerliness, politeness, affability, agreeability, agreeableness, amenity, amiability, amiableness, geniality, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, niceness, personableness, pleasantness, sweetness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Graciousness

Words with the opposite meaning of Graciousness:

discourteousness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, surliness, ungraciousness, disagreeableness, unpleasantness

Related Words for Graciousness

attentiveness, consideration, thoughtfulness, ceremonialness, ceremoniousness, ceremony, formality, chivalrousness, chivalry, courtliness, gallantry, gentlemanliness, knighthood, knightliness, breeding, manners, suaveness, unctuousness, urbanity, elegance, refinement, deference, respect, decency, decorousness, decorum, gentilesse, polish, politesse, propriety

Near Antonyms of Graciousness

audaciousness, audacity, boldness, brashness, brassiness, disrespect, impertinence, impudence, insolence, sauciness, shamelessness, boorishness, churlishness, clownishness, loutishness, vulgarity, casualness, informality, delinquency, improperness, impropriety, inappropriateness, incorrectness, indecency, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness, arrogance, conceit, presumption

Word Forms of Graciousness

Derived words: graciously (adverb), graciousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Graciousness

Middle English, from Anglo-French gracieus, from Latin gratiosus enjoying favor, agreeable, from gratia

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Graciousness

What does "Graciousness" mean?

"Graciousness" means marked by kindness and courtesy. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: marked by kindness and courtesy. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Graciousness"?

Other words for "Graciousness" include civility, courteousness, courtesy, genteelness, gentility, mannerliness, politeness and affability. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Graciousness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Graciousness"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Graciousness". Common alternatives include civility, courteousness, courtesy, genteelness, gentility, mannerliness, politeness, affability, agreeability and agreeableness.

What is the opposite of "Graciousness"?

Antonyms of "Graciousness" include discourteousness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, surliness, ungraciousness and disagreeableness. Near antonyms include audaciousness, audacity, boldness and brashness.

How do you use "Graciousness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Graciousness" in a sentence: "at this type of private school, young women would be taught upper-class graciousness"; "his graciousness and wit kept his fellow diners entertained throughout the meal".

Is "Graciousness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Graciousness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Graciousness"?

"Graciousness" is pronounced /ˈgrā-shəs/ and divided into syllables as gra·cious.

What is the origin of the word "Graciousness"?

"Graciousness" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French gracieus, from Latin gratiosus enjoying favor, agreeable, from gratia. First known use: 14th century.