graceful

adjective

grace·​ful ˈgrās-fəl 

1

: displaying grace (see grace entry 1 sense 1) in form or action : pleasing or attractive in line, proportion, or movement

a graceful dancer

the graceful neck of a swan

2

: exhibiting control, good manners, or kindness

As his empire crumbled amid the … scandal, he defiantly refused a graceful exit.

—Jonathan Alter et al.

gracefully

ˈgrās-fə-lē 

adverb

gracefulness noun

Synonyms of graceful

• agile
• nimble
• balletic
• gracile
• lithe
• lithesome
• spry
• lissome
• feline

Examples of graceful in a Sentence

He has become a very graceful dancer.

the graceful movements of a ballerina

She was a graceful young woman with delicate features.

the long, graceful neck of a swan

His writing is clear and graceful.

There was no graceful way to say no to their offer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Urbanie Lucero’s choreography and movement direction maintain the production’s graceful poise. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

From curved pulls to squiggly handles, and even a style finished off with a metal tassel, these operate as graceful accessories to enhance old and new furnishings. — Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026

This means incorporating robust frameworks that prevent threats such as cyberattacks while facilitating rapid recovery and graceful degradation during system-wide failures. — Miroslav Katsarov, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

As a young and impressionable onlooker, Dzeko looked huge (at 6ft 4in/193cm) yet so graceful on the ball. — Amitai Winehouse, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see grace entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for graceful

• disgraceful
• ungraceful