suave
adjective
Synonyms
- debonair
- smooth
- sophisticated
- svelte
- urbane
Example Sentences
Will Ferguson, Beauty Tips From Moose Jaw, 2004 When she had been Miss Tampa, a suave major leaguer had courted her till she found out he was married, with children. Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 19 Mar. 2001 Bobby gets a lot of tough love at home. As suave and polite as he seems to outsiders, he has "two personalities," says his stepmother Wille. "He's a con artist." His parents kicked him out of the house in August, trying to scare him after he came home drunk at 5 a. m. Stacy Perman, Time, 25 Oct. 1999 a suave and sophisticated businessman the suave gentleman was a great favorite of the elegant ladies who attended parties at the embassy James Sprague, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2022 The pairing of the ultra-suave Bond, played at the time by Sean Connery, and the elegant grand tourer was a match made in spy heaven. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2021 Elsewhere, Fabiola’s season-long crisis between her love of nerdy things and her desire to impress her super-suave girlfriend comes to a satisfying conclusion. Abby Govindan, Vulture, 24 July 2021 At the end of the film, Long throws Sam a surprise quinceañera and wows the guests with his shockingly suave Latin dance moves. Carlos Greaves, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2021 Well, not that old and still quite suave and dashing. Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2020 Meanwhile, Shiloh looked suave in a zip-up jacket with faded gold and silver stripes running horizontally, and paired the jacket with classic trousers. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Oct. 2019 In one clip, Stamos channeled suave Uncle Jesse to fix his hair. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2020 Thomas Rhett is known for his singalong-worthy songs, dynamic live performances, and, of course, for his suave appearance and good looks. Natalie Schumann, Country Living, 5 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
French, from Middle French, pleasant, sweet, from Latin suavis — more at sweet
1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1
suave
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sophisticated
- graceful
- urbane
- debonair
- smooth
- civilized
- gracious
- polished
- svelte
- attractive
- slick
- serene
- experienced
- cosmopolitan
- unctuous
- confident
- cultured
- smart
- glib
- cavalier
- cultivated
- amiable
- appealing
- practiced
- poised
- composed
- metropolitan
- genteel
- seasoned
- refined
- placid
- calm
- well-bred
- knowing
- worldly-wise
- couth
- collected
- metro
- unperturbed
- tranquil
- schooled
- assured
- self-assured
- cool
- self-possessed
- undisturbed
- secure
- self-confident
- practised
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clownish
- boorish
- uncouth
- loutish
- gauche
- clumsy
- awkward
- stiff
- rustic
- wooden
- classless
- uneasy
- churlish
- graceless
- green
- stilted
- ungraceful
- uncomfortable
- inexperienced
- raw
- puerile
- callow
- provincial
- unsophisticated
- unrefined
- rustical
- parochial
- inelegant
- unworldly
- uncivilized
- diffident
- gawky
- stodgy
- uncultured
- rough-hewn
- ungainly
- philistine
- insecure
- lubberly
- hick
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of suave are bland, diplomatic, politic, smooth, and urbane. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.
The words bland and suave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.
Although the words diplomatic and suave have much in common, diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.
The meanings of politic and suave largely overlap; however, politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.
In some situations, the words smooth and suave are roughly equivalent. However, smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.
The synonyms urbane and suave are sometimes interchangeable, but urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.