sleek

1 of 2

adjective

ˈslēk 

1

a

: smooth and glossy as if polished

sleek dark hair

b

: having a smooth well-groomed look

sleek cattle

c

: healthy-looking

2

: smooth in speech or manner

also : unctuous

3

a

: having a prosperous air

sleek luxury condominiums

b

: having trim graceful lines

a sleek car

c

: elegant, stylish

a sleek wardrobe

sleekly adverb

sleekness noun

sleek

2 of 2

verb

sleeked; sleeking; sleeks

transitive verb

1

: slick

grooms sleeking cooled horses

—Sunset

2

: to cover up : gloss over

intransitive verb

: slick

Synonyms

Adjective

• polished
• glossy
• glistening

Choose the Right Synonym for sleek

sleek, slick, glossy mean having a smooth bright surface or appearance.

sleek suggests a smoothness or brightness resulting from attentive grooming or physical conditioning.

a sleek racehorse

slick suggests extreme smoothness that results in a slippery surface.

slipped and fell on the slick floor

glossy suggests a highly reflective surface.

photographs having a glossy finish

Examples of sleek in a Sentence

Adjective

the sleek lines of a sports car

a striking beauty with sleek raven hair

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The hardware on this model is sleeker than earlier Scribes too. —New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2025

The Turkish yard’s halls are currently at capacity with other bespoke builds, with a sleek 164-foot coupé project expected to launch in October and a 197-foot tri-deck due to hit the water before the end of the year. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025

Verb

From storybook Southern estates to sleek West Coast escapes and Bahamian hideaways, the homes of her collection are covered in more detail below. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2025

The sale features a wide selection of men's fashion essentials, from timeless denim jackets perfect for cooler weather to sleek AllSaints wallets that add a touch of modern edge. —Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

alteration of slick entry 1

Verb

Middle English sleken, alteration of sliken — more at slick entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for sleek

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek

Kids Definition

sleek

1 of 2 verb

ˈslēk 

: to make or become sleek

sleek

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: smooth and glossy as if polished

sleek dark hair

b

: having a smooth healthy well-groomed look

sleek cattle grazing

2

: having a prosperous look or manner

sleekly adverb

sleekness noun