Well-mannered

adj.kind, thoughtfuleveryday

What it means

Consistently courteous and considerate in social behavior.

Reach for it when praising manners that show respect for other people, not mere obedience

The well-mannered students thanked the custodians and moved their chairs back after the event.

playful
classy
when admirable conduct deserves relaxed social praise
not when Classy is vague and can confuse manners with wealth or style.
everyday
polite
when ordinary courtesy is the exact quality
not when Polite can describe one exchange, while well-mannered suggests a reliable pattern.
warm
considerate
when anticipating other people's needs is more important than etiquette
not when Considerate action may ignore formal manners while still being kind.
warm
respectful
when regard for people, boundaries, or differences matters
not when Respect extends beyond etiquette and may include behavior that is not conventionally polished.
formal
civil
when basic decency during disagreement is the achievement
not when Civil is a lower standard and can sound restrained rather than genuinely considerate.
formal
courteous
when respectful conduct belongs in professional praise
not when Courteous sounds official and may lack the ease of natural good manners.
formal
proper
when conformity to accepted etiquette is specifically intended
not when Proper can sound rigid, class-coded, or judgmental.
literary
gracious
when generosity and poise elevate the person's manners
not when Gracious is stronger and often involves handling attention or difficulty well.

well-mannered child
The well-mannered child greeted the host and still spoke honestly about needing a break.
well-mannered guest
A well-mannered guest asked before bringing another person to dinner.
quietly well-mannered
Quietly well-mannered, Kenji returned each borrowed tool cleaner than he found it.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.