svelte

adjective

ˈsvelt How to pronounce svelte (audio)
Definition of sveltenext
1
as in skinny
having a noticeably small amount of body fat the svelte dancer seemed to float across the stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sophisticated
having or showing very polished and worldly manners the interior designer spoke in a low, svelte voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of svelte This portable misting fan is more discreet than a spray bottle fan on a lanyard and svelte enough to slip into a purse or backpack. — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 On the carpet, Delevingne stepped out in a svelte black halter-neck dress by Ralph Lauren, featuring black illusion-mesh cap sleeves. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 4 May 2026 Vato’s tiny storefront is austere and modern, an aesthetic that extends to the burritos themselves, which are long, lithe roll-ups with a sort of gamine appeal, svelte as a Virginia Slim. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026 There are something close to 50 of To’s movies to choose from, and all of them have a wonderful visual liveliness — plus a compelling, svelte sense of place that lives at a particularly fun intersection between the worlds of Akira Kurosawa and Jean-Pierre Melville. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for svelte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for svelte
  1. skinny
  2. sophisticated
  3. slender
  4. graceful
  5. thin
  6. smooth
  7. lean
  8. suave
Adjective
  • Elordi himself opted to wear Bottega Veneta, sporting a navy, softly pinstriped double-breasted suit with sharp lapels and coordinating tailored pants, a white shirt, and navy skinny tie.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Love is blind, love is on the spectrum, love is… suddenly skinny?
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • Now, advanced and sophisticated products are helping growing companies extend the impact of their existing workforces in ways that previously weren’t realistically attainable.
    — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Iran’s state media, in turn, has waged a sophisticated propaganda campaign, publishing a barrage of content and misinformation meant to sway public opinion of the wider war and diminish its government’s losses.
    — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of sophisticated
Adjective
  • Several other curved, slender bones were soon found nearby, according to pictures shared with the station.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • One, which was a slender ribbon of saplings and grass, led to the grainfield where Kontras had been waiting.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of slender
Adjective
  • The driveway, lined with perennial beds, has a graceful curve on its way to a large circle that allows guests to park near the walkway to the front porch.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The country is mired in a war with Iran with no graceful exit opportunities; a new round of tariffs threatens to further disrupt fragile global trade relations; and the domestic economy faces inflation combined with paltry growth.
    — Zachary Karabell, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of graceful
Adjective
  • With a steely disposition, Dikha is seen in the videos standing at the very front of a thin boat, executing a repetitive series of dance moves as a line of rowers propel them through a river.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The mountain of seafood comes with a little sidecar of very thin, very crispy potato chips, seemingly for the hell of it, and a bottle of tart, fiery homemade hot sauce.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • The essence has a high concentration of PDRN, which promotes cellular repair and collagen production, plus niacinamide and copper peptides to leave your skin firmer and smoother.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The track, which blends smooth R&B vocals with contemporary pop production, came almost a decade after bits of the song first leaked on social media.
    — Caché McClay, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of smooth
Adjective
  • How is this possible, especially for organizations that are already lean from a staff perspective?
    — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Keeping their costs lean, the founders decided to run their company operations out of their hometown of Kyiv, Ukraine.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of lean
Adjective
  • In the first series, Bateman plays Vince, a charismatic and chaotic screw-up who reunites with his brother, suave bar owner Jake (Jude Law).
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The dynamic is at its best when Judah glides over IsoKeys’ beats like two kids trying to be suave while hopping an MTA turnstile with one tap.
    — Lei Takanashi, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026
Definition of suave

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suzerains
svelte
svelteness
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Cite this Entry

“Svelte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/svelte. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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