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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of svelte
Lewis makes Allegra a horny scamp, and Olyphant’s Pete, the group ringleader, has a svelte savagery.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
This particular take on the cargo van is longer, wider and emptier than any Sprinter that Mercedes builds at its factories while weighing hundreds of pounds less thanks to a svelte carbon fiber shell.
—C.c. Weiss
march 05, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
Thanks in part to Ozempic, thin is back in, with once-plus-size celebrities sporting svelter physiques, and some already-slim stars now verging on gaunt.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
The sloping roofline and tapered sides give it a more svelte look over the larger EX90 while the rear features the latest iteration of the automaker’s vertical LED taillights that outline the tailgate.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for svelte
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
This particular take on the cargo van is longer, wider and emptier than any Sprinter that Mercedes builds at its factories while weighing hundreds of pounds less thanks to a svelte carbon fiber shell.
—C.c. Weiss
march 05, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
Thanks in part to Ozempic, thin is back in, with once-plus-size celebrities sporting svelter physiques, and some already-slim stars now verging on gaunt.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
The sloping roofline and tapered sides give it a more svelte look over the larger EX90 while the rear features the latest iteration of the automaker’s vertical LED taillights that outline the tailgate.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for svelte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for svelte
Adjective
-
Originally introduced in 2012, the concept was a bestseller between 2014 and 2019 while skinny jeans were still on trend.—
Sarah Jones,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
And skinny labeling, which amounts to a carve-out tactic, is one way that Congress attempted to foster more competition and benefit consumers.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The sophisticated set by ace production designer David Gropman enables Altman’s perpetually moving and zooming camera to drift in and out of two-way mirrors that depict memories and fantasies with both immediacy and a gauzy nostalgia.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
-
Even on a generous patio, clean-lined, multi-functional pieces read as more sophisticated than oversized sets that crowd the space.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
For a speedy dinner chock-full of slender haricot verts, make this Gochujang Chicken Stir-Fry.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Jackson DeCosta, a tall and slender teenager with a metabolism faster than Lamar Jackson’s 40 time, had no such worries during a long Saturday in the draft room, according to his father.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Old stone walls and graceful arches frame olive and citrus groves and gum trees, while antique pieces gathered from European markets dot the corners.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants the Islamic Republic’s disintegration, whereas Trump, possibly satisfied with tactical success in Iran, may desire any graceful exit.—
Alexander Langlois,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These thin stainless steel cake testers are not only cheap to replace but also widely available.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That, along with the March trade that sent Sam Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres, would leave them painfully thin down the middle, with little center help coming up through the system.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This Oxo spinner remains one of the most reliable options, with a smooth pump mechanism and sturdy construction that holds up better than most.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Starmer — who is facing relentless domestic criticism over a flailing economy and his appointment of the disgraced Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, while grappling with a surging far-right opposition — will be praying for a smooth visit.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Dave Grohl faces the backlash with the leanest, meanest Foo Fighters album in 30 years.—
Stuart Berman,
Pitchfork,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This could be more vegetables and more lean protein.—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The ensuing evacuation coincides with a criminal operation orchestrated by the suave George Karalis (Theo James) and his muscle -for-hire gang led by the mysterious X (Sam Worthington).—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Aasif Mandvi and Christopher Fitzgerald barely register as Jane and Julia’s oblivious husbands, while Consuelos, who plays Maurice as a suave cuckolder with a dodgy European accent, should probably stick to daytime TV.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Svelte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/svelte. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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