sleek

1 of 2

adjective

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 horsesSunset
2
: to cover up : gloss over
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
That was certainly the approach last night: Her giant faux fur shawl made the suit feel evening-ready, as did her sleek black shades. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024 His mother had bought a turkey dinner from a local caterer and put it on her own mother’s sleek porcelain platter. Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2024
Verb
Patrick Cox More bags to consider From roomy canvas carryalls to sleek leather work bags, a good tote is a travel essential. Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2024 From comfortable walking shoes and workout dresses to sleek luggage and weekender bags, there’s something for everyone. Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sleek 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sleek.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleek was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sleek

Cite this Entry

“Sleek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleek. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

sleek

1 of 2 verb
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on sleek

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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