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There’s no shortage of anger and meanness in the world these days. Sometimes it feels as though we’re mad at each other about absolutely everything. It’ll take some hard conversations and complex solutions to fix those kinds of problems, and it won’t happen overnight.

But in the meantime, we can at least strive to add some positivity to the world in whatever way we can. And one way is simply to be a little nicer to one another! Try saying “thank you” more often or holding the door for strangers or helping your neighbors out when they need it.

And maybe, we can try to compliment each other more often.

As usual, I stumbled across another interesting article on Merriam-Webster’s dictionary website this week. This one was a compilation of “sophisticated” compliments you can use, and I thought it would be fun to share them. Maybe you can find people in your life who are deserving of a few of these descriptors.

Urbane – “notably polite of polished in manner”

Not to be confused with “urban” which relates to cities (though both words have the same Latin root), urbane is for describing people with a certain suaveness and poise that comes from a lot of social experience. You can use “debonair” and “sophisticated” as synonyms. The word was first used back in the early 1600s.

Here’s an example sentence: As an urbane traveler, she has many stories about dining in high-class restaurants around the world.

Savvy – “having or showing perception, comprehension, or shrewdness especially in practical matters”

A word originating in the 1700s, it also has Latin roots, stemming from the word which means “to be wise.” That makes sense, because if you call someone “tech savvy,” then you know they’re someone who’s good at navigating technology, even as it upgrades and updates. (I wish I were tech savvy!)

An example sentence: He’s quite savvy with numbers, so we always call him when we have questions about the budget calculations.

Intrepid – “feeling no fear: very bold or brave”

Like others on this list, intrepid also has Latin origins (a common theme in much of the English language). The “trepid” part of the word comes from a Latin word meaning “to tremble” but adding the “in” prefix negates that meaning. So basically “intrepid” translates to “no trembling.”

Example sentence: She was an intrepid adventurer who never backed down from a challenge, even if that challenge was simply braving the crowds for the best deals on Black Friday.

Magnanimous – “having or showing a generous and kind nature”

The Latin roots for this word, first used all the way back in the 1540s, translate to “great spirit.” Those who are magnanimous are the opposite of selfish. Some synonyms include gallant and chivalrous.

Example sentence: They call him magnanimous because he’s always spending his free time volunteering with local organizations that help people in need.

Indefatigable – “able to work or continue for a very long time without becoming tired”

I have to admit, I learned this word years ago thanks to a song from the 1975 movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” There’s a bit in the comedy movie where the Knights of the Round Table from Camelot describe themselves in song. To quote, “In war we’re tough and able, quite indefatigable.”

I can believe these guys must be tireless, because according to the song, they’re quite busy in Camelot doing dance routines, singing opera, and eating ham and jam and spam a lot.

(I’ll skip the example sentence for this one. Just listen to the song.)

Toothsome – “agreeable; attractive” or “of palatable flavor and pleasing texture”

I know you’re probably thinking this word has something to do with the teeth in your mouth, but you’d be wrong (unless you find teeth attractive). But according to the dictionary, there’s another meaning to the word “tooth,” which is “a fondness or taste for something specified.” Basically, it’s a metaphorical tooth, if you will.

You can use the word to describe a beautiful person or a bunch of delicious food. I suppose it just depends on your taste…

Example sentence: No one at the banquet could resist the delightful aroma of sweetness coming from the toothsome spread of desserts laid out on the table. (They all unfortunately had toothaches later.)

Ruthful – “tender”

This word was first used all the way back in the 13th century, but this is the first time I’ve heard of this one. You use it to describe someone who’s full of mercy and compassion. In order words, a nice tenderhearted person. (But there’s also a secondary meaning which is “full of sorrow” which… isn’t quite a compliment like the other meaning of the word.)

Example sentence: She has a ruthful heart and is easily moved to tears whenever she hears an uplifting story about people doing good in the world.

These are just a few good words to get you started if you want to start saying nice things about people. But there are plenty of other words out there to use for compliments as well. And you can never go wrong with classic compliments too.

So please take a moment to spread a little bit of happiness around. We all sure do need it.

Holly Taylor is a Staff Writer for Roanoke-Chowan Publications. Contact her at holly.taylor@r-cnews.com or 252-332-7206.