gracious
GREY-shuhs
/ˈɡreɪʃəs/
Courteous, kind, and pleasant, especially towards those of lower social status or in a situation of hosting.
Carries an air of elegance, poise, and generosity, showing warmth without losing one's dignity or manners.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'gratiosus' ('agreeable, enjoying favor'), from 'gratia' ('favor, grace, thanks'). It originally described someone who possessed divine favor or elegance, which evolved into the social art of making others feel favored and comfortable.
Word relationships
- courteous: Courteous is polite and respectful of rules, while gracious adds a layer of heartfelt generosity and elegance.
- affable: Affable means easy to talk to and friendly, whereas gracious implies a more refined, polished kindness.
- churlish: Rude, mean-spirited, and surly in a difficult way.
- ungracious: Lacking politeness, gratitude, or good manners.
Commonly confused with
- graceful: Graceful refers to physical movement or elegance of form, while gracious refers to kindness, politeness, and generosity of spirit.
Word family
- graciously (adverb): In a kind, courteous, and elegant manner.
- graciousness (noun): The quality of being pleasant, polite, and generous.
Collocations
- gracious host
- gracious living
- gracious smile
- gracious acceptance
Idioms & expressions
- with good grace
Example sentences
- "Even when a guest accidentally spilled red wine on the white carpet, the gracious host smiled and insisted it was no trouble at all." Handling an awkward social situation with elegance.
- "She was gracious in defeat, warmly congratulating her rival and thanking the organizers." Accepting defeat or criticism politely.
Memory hook
A 'gracious' host is full of 'grace' and makes everyone feel 'precious'. Gracious hosts show grace to us.
When not to use
Do not use to describe casual, messy, or overly familiar friendliness; it requires a touch of refinement.
Fun facts
- The exclamation 'Good gracious!' dates back to the 1700s as a polite way to express surprise without using a religious oath.
Related words
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