debonair

adjective

ˌde-bə-ˈner How to pronounce debonair (audio)
Definition of debonairnext
1
as in nonchalant
having or showing freedom from worries or troubles his debonair dismissal of my inquiry concerning his financial situation led me to believe that nothing was wrong

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sophisticated
having or showing very polished and worldly manners the debonair gentleman charmed all of the ladies in the room

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 debonair To this day, his 2019 Aladdin movie still ranks as one of the most rip-roaring live action adaptations of a Disney cartoon while his take on Sherlock Holmes was more of a bare-knuckle bruiser than a debonair detective. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Pierce Brosnan brought a suave, debonair approach, while Daniel Craig introduced a gritty realism and vulnerability to Bond. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 17 June 2026 Hong Kong icon Tony Leung has channeled brooding urban energy for the masterpieces of Wong Kar-Wai, balancing the debonair ennui of Marcello Mastroianni with the quiet watchfulness of Montgomery Clift. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 May 2026 Field played Miranda Hillard, Daniel’s ex-wife, while Pierce Brosnan portrayed her debonair new love interest, Stu. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for debonair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debonair
  1. nonchalant
  2. sophisticated
  3. carefree
  4. suave
  5. insouciant
  6. graceful
  7. cavalier
  8. civilized
Adjective
  • Off-duty models stepped out in nonchalant style, pairing the jeans with basic tops and simple belts, while fashion show attendees elevated the laidback fits with button-down denim shirts, neckties and colorful knitwear.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Just a rugged man in a stream There is, of course, nothing nonchalant about the exchange.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of nonchalant
Adjective
  • The project also reflects the increasing importance of reliable manufacturing capacity in industries that depend on sophisticated electronic, sensing and space-related technologies.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Soviets and their allies might have sophisticated weaponry and boundless barbarity.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of sophisticated
Adjective
  • When tragedy strikes, a carefree journalist must step up to anchor his family and rebuild his world.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Either way, this home affords an exceptional carefree lifestyle.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of carefree
Adjective
  • Someone with aura is confident, cool, collected, and suave; someone without aura is insecure, cringey, or generally uncool.
    — Stephanie Kasulka, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of suave
Adjective
  • Why should Americans far away from insouciant states necessarily bail them out?
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Midi lengths refuse to commit to long or short camps, settling in the middle for a moment that's polished and truly insouciant.
    — Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of insouciant
Adjective
  • His strawberry-blond American mother had given him her graceful neck and tall, sleek but broad-shouldered build.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The slender metal frame swoops into a graceful curve, with a petite tray branching off to one side—a perfect perch for your favorite candle or a warm drink.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of graceful
Adjective
  • What makes this emptiness more bothersome is the cavalier way Wingard wields the imagery of rogue, militarized killers wreaking havoc on the American landscape.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps most viscerally, given the ever-present specter of nuclear annihilation during the Cold War, Capps was appalled by Falwell’s apocalyptic rhetoric and cavalier posture toward global destruction.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of cavalier
Adjective
  • Aaron Turpen / New Atlas The next big surprise is how civilized the Charger has become.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
  • On pavement, the 4Runner was comfortable and surprisingly civilized considering the serious off-road hardware underneath it.
    — Denver Post, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of civilized

Browse Nearby Words

debits
debonair
debrief
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Cite this Entry

“Debonair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debonair. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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