gracious
Gracious means "kind, courteous, and compassionate," like your gracious reply to a rude question like, "So, did you ever learn to hit a softball?"
Gracious descends from the Latin word for good will. A gracious person wants everyone to be comfortable: a gracious host leaves extra blankets and some books on a variety of subjects out for overnight guests to enjoy. Even at a difficult moment, a gracious person remains thoughtful and kind, like the gracious way you treat a waiter who spills a glass of juice on your lap.
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characterized by kindness and warm courtesy especially of a king to his subjects
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exhibiting courtesy and politeness
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characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit“gracious even to unexpected visitors”“gracious living”“he bears insult with gracious good humor”
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synonyms:
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friendly
characteristic of or befitting a friend
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elegant, graceful, refined
suggesting taste, ease, and wealth
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merciful
(used conventionally of royalty and high nobility) gracious
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refined
(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
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antonyms:
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ungracious
lacking charm and good taste
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churlish
rude and boorish
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graceless, unpleasing
lacking graciousness
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unrefined
(used of persons and their behavior) not refined; uncouth
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friendly
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disposed to bestow favors“thanks to the gracious gods”
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synonyms:
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propitious
presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success
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propitious
/ˈgreɪʃəs/
/ˈgreɪʃəs/
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Vocabulary lists containing gracious
Whether you're making a special effort to practice kindness — or thanking someone else for a thoughtful gesture — these words will come in handy.
Looking for more ways to describe marvelous people? Practice this list of words that's perfect for creative writers, English language learners, or anyone looking to expand their vocabulary.
The pivotal document of the Civil War, this proclamation freed the slaves and opened a new chapter in the nation's history. To emancipate means to liberate or free someone. The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential order made by Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862. It was a military order that freed any slave held in the Confederacy as of January 1, 1863. While this proclaimed slaves in the South free, it did not end all slavery in the United States. That was accomplished by the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution ratified In 1865.