Gracefully
What it means
With elegance, ease, and regard for other people's dignity.
Reach for it when praising how someone moves or handles difficulty without awkwardness or harshness
The chairperson gracefully acknowledged the opposing view.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
|---|---|
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
with aplomb
Fits when confident handling of an awkward moment deserves lively praise
Careful Aplomb stresses assurance and may overlook gentleness toward others.
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warm
Fits when courtesy and generosity toward others shape the action
Careful Graciously fits social conduct but not a dancer's physical ease.
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professional
fluidly
Fits when continuous controlled movement is the observable quality
Careful Fluidly is technical and does not cover tactful acceptance or departure.
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professional
Fits when a process or transition occurs without disruption
Careful Smoothly says nothing about dignity and can describe a purely mechanical result.
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professional
Fits when sensitive wording avoids needless offense
Careful Tactfully concerns judgment in communication, not elegance of movement.
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formal
Fits when refinement of movement, form, or expression is central
Careful Elegantly can praise style without the kindness or composure suggested by gracefully.
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literary
poisedly
Fits when composure and self-command are deliberately emphasized
Careful Poisedly is rare and less natural than gracefully in most prose.
Opposites 3
- awkwardly
- clumsily
- rudely
Common phrases 3
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move gracefully
The crane can move gracefully despite its enormous wingspan.
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gracefully accept
She gracefully accepted the correction and amended the record.
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age gracefully
The timber was chosen to age gracefully rather than remain flawless.
Word family 2
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Sumxr, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated