SVELTE Synonyms: 173 Similar and Opposite Words

svelte

adjective

ˈsvelt

Definition of svelte

as in skinny

having a noticeably small amount of body fat the svelte dancer seemed to float across the stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 Introduced in 1957, the ultra-thin 9P calibre was known for its svelte figure—its slim movement freed up room on the dial, and the Maison began setting those dials with hardstone and gems across a wide spectrum of colors. — Taylor Stoddard, Robb Report, 16 June 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 With a smaller footprint, lower profile, and improved engineering, the R2 sheds around a ton of weight (quite literally, though depending on R1 spec) down to a relatively svelte 4,998 pounds (2,267 kg) for the dual-motor variants. — ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for svelte

Recent Examples of Synonyms for svelte

Adjective

This season, the slimmer silhouette and skinny fit was back again.

— Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 6 July 2026
Rodríguez Castro wore light-blue skinny jeans, a tight, black Hugo Boss T-shirt and Hermes sneakers.

— Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

The food options are notably more sophisticated than standard commercial airline fare.

— Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Go casual with denim shorts or lean more sophisticated with crisp trousers for the office — two ways Swift has styled white shirts before.

— Claire West, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

Definition of sophisticated

Adjective

Their beauty also shapes traditional dance in Rwanda, with graceful movements performed by women who extend their arms to mimic the cows’ horns.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026
The graceful trailing stems and showy flowers of climbing hydrangeas (Hydrangea anomala) look beautiful growing on pergolas and fences.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026

Definition of graceful

Adjective

The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.

— STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026
Sprinkle the entire rug with a thin layer of baking soda and wait 20 minutes.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

Morton kosher salt and blend until mostly smooth with no whole pieces of corn left, about 4 minutes.

— Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Directions In a large bowl whisk together vanilla pudding mix, whole milk, sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl until slightly thickened and smooth, about 1 minute.

— Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026

Definition of smooth

Adjective

Adding non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats to pasta salad or potato salad can reduce their glycemic impact.

— Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 6 July 2026
Created in consultation with nutritionist and food consultant Ankita Jalori, the dishes on offer use millets, whole grains, lean proteins like chicken and fish, and low-fat dairy options, such as goat milk.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026

Definition of lean

Adjective

Waddingham wore a stunning velvet rose bodycon dress and posed for cameras next to Beresford-Cleary, who opted for a suave suit paired with an open white shirt.

— Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Jada oozed cool in logomania jeans and a black jacket, while Will looked suave in a short sleeve button-up and khaki pants.

— Christina Perrier, InStyle, 23 June 2026

Definition of suave

Browse Nearby Words

suzerains

svelte

svelteness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Svelte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/svelte. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of svelte

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on svelte

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes