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

• buffed
• burnished
• glistening
• glossy
• lustrous
• polished
• rubbed
• satin
• satiny

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

Like several others in its catalog, this vacuum boasts a sleek design that’s reminiscent of best-sellers like Samsung’s Bespoke Jet. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2025

Digitizing services or offering sleek apps is no longer sufficient. —Gabriele Buffo, Fortune, 26 June 2025

Verb

Our top picks are spacious, durable, odor-blocking, and sleek enough to blend right in with your kitchen cabinets. —Jamie Fischer, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025

On Tuesday, May 11, the SKIMS founder, 44, was spotted going into the Palais de Justice court in Paris, wearing a black blazer and skirt combo with her hair sleeked up into a bun. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 13 May 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