sultry

adjective

sul·​try ˈsəl-trē How to pronounce sultry (audio)
sultrier; sultriest
Synonyms of sultry
1
a
: very hot and humid : sweltering
a sultry day
b
: burning hot : torrid
a sultry sun
2
a
: hot with passion or anger
b
: exciting or capable of exciting strong sexual desire
sultry glances
sultrily
ˈsəl-trə-lē How to pronounce sultry (audio)
adverb
sultriness
ˈsəl-trē-nəs How to pronounce sultry (audio)
noun

Synonyms of sultry

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Examples of sultry in a Sentence

In the one Manet Stephen owned, Young Woman Reclining in Spanish Costume (1862–1863), the plump young model provokes us with her sultry gaze, her awkward semi-recumbent position, her casually defiant cross-dressing in a male torero's shiny trousers, and the come-hither implication of her highlighted hands … —John Updike, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006
As the fireflies entertain humans all summer long with a magical light show, they are actually cruising the sultry nights in search of love. "Male fireflies fly around flashing their advertisement," says evolutionary ecologist Sara Lewis of Tufts, one of the authors of the study, which appeared in the journal Science recently. —Betsy Mason, Orlando Sentinel, 22 July 2001
In an age when the gangsta rapper is king and pubescent boy and girl groups rule the charts with a tough … version of adolescent bubble-gum pop, Toni Braxton is an anomaly. Her sultry good looks, rich, husky contralto and ability to deliver a line with such mature conviction make her seem older, more experienced than her 26 years. —Gordon Chambers, Essence, April 1994
She looked at him with a sultry glance. an actress with a sultry voice
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The effect is a subtle, smoky depth that reads as effortlessly sultry rather than overdone. — Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 2 June 2026 Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel has sultry rooms and a fine dining restaurant. — Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026 The Amalfi Coast is famously sultry, comprising 13 villages that are sprinkled along a rugged shore. — Natalie Hammond, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 June 2026 Eight honey scent perfumes stand out for 2026, spanning fresh florals, sultry tobacco blends and modern niche releases. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sultry

Word History

Etymology

obsolete English sulter to swelter, alteration of English swelter

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sultry was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

sultriness
sultry
sulu
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sultry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sultry. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sultry

adjective
sul·​try ˈsəl-trē How to pronounce sultry (audio)
sultrier; sultriest
1
: very hot and humid
a sultry day
2
: burning hot
sultry sun
3
: exciting or capable of exciting romantic passion
sultry glances
sultrily
-trə-lē How to pronounce sultry (audio)
adverb
sultriness
-trē-nəs How to pronounce sultry (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sultry

Nglish: Translation of sultry for Spanish Speakers

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