gracious

[grey-shuhs]

adjective

1. pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous.

   Synonyms: polite, pleasant, kindly, friendly, courteous, benign, benevolent
   Antonyms: churlish

2. characterized by good taste, comfort, ease, or luxury: a gracious home.

   gracious suburban living;

   a gracious home.

3. indulgent or beneficent in a pleasantly condescending way, especially to inferiors.

4. merciful or compassionate.

   our gracious king.

   Synonyms: gentle, mild, merciful, clement, tender, compassionate
   Antonyms: cruel

5. Obsolete.,  fortunate or happy.

interjection

1. Also good gracious (used as an exclamation of surprise, relief, dismay, etc.)

gracious

/ ˈɡreɪʃəs /

adjective

1. characterized by or showing kindness and courtesy

2. condescendingly courteous, benevolent, or indulgent

3. characterized by or suitable for a life of elegance, ease, and indulgence

   gracious living

   gracious furnishings

4. merciful or compassionate

5. obsolete,  fortunate, prosperous, or happy

interjection

1. an expression of mild surprise or wonder (often in exclamatory phrases such as good gracious!, gracious me! )

Other Word Forms

• graciously adverb
• graciosity noun
• graciousness noun
• nongraciosity noun
• nongracious adjective
• overgracious adjective
• quasi-gracious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gracious¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English gracious, from Old French, from Latin grātiōsus “amiable,” equivalent to grāti(a) “favor, kindness, esteem” + -ōsus adjective suffix; grace, -ous

Idioms and Phrases

see goodness gracious.

Synonym Study

See kind ¹.

Example Sentences

One day, I came to the dining room of my gracious place, and seated across from me was a woman who immediately struck me.

From Los Angeles Times

Surely some people will recoil at my likening Meghan’s efforts to those of Queen Martha, doyenne of gracious living and doing everything yourself.

From Salon

"Ronnie was very gracious about it considering... but as far as he was concerned as a professional in the movie industry it was all in a day's work," said Powell.

From BBC

Despite the whirlwind nature of the last few hours, the gracious 22-year-old actor sounds genuinely invested when answering questions with a respectful straightforwardness.

From Los Angeles Times

He was short and balding, with beady brown eyes, a friendly face and gracious manner.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accommodating 
• affable 
• amiable 
• approachable 
• compassionate 
• congenial 
• considerate 
• cordial 
• courteous 
• courtly 
• friendly 
• genial 
• good-natured 
• hospitable 
• loving 
• polite 
• sociable 
• well-mannered