suaver; suavest
1
: smoothly though often superficially gracious and sophisticated
2
: smooth in texture, performance, or style
suavely adverb
suaveness noun
suavity noun
Choose the Right Synonym for suave

suave, urbane, diplomatic, bland, smooth, politic mean pleasantly tactful and well-mannered.

suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

Examples of suave in a Sentence

I am pleased, also, to think I pulled it off. I didn't do anything too stupid or gauche, and even though it was my first time at a spa, I managed to bluff my way through in a suitably suave, urbane fashion without any embarrassing social gaffes. 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
Recent Examples on the Web Thomas’ suave army officer father Robert (Quim Gutiérrez, radiating Belmondo-esque charm) and his mother Colette (Nadia Tereszkiewicz) aren’t overly concerned with their son’s exploits, parenting him and his siblings in vaguely permissive fashion. Guy Lodge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 Ritchie directs the first two episodes and all his staples are there — double crosses, suave attire, handsome interiors, bursts of violence and quirky secondary characters (my fave: the stoned-out-of-his gourd cannabis expert Henry Collins, played by Max Beesley.). Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group continues to partner with artists with deep-bench catalogs — announcing on Tuesday (March 5) a deal with Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry to acquire half of the suave auteur’s sound recording, publishing, and name, image and likeness rights. Marc Schneider, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2024 An elegant delight in the mouth with lush tropical flavors, suave succulence and jumping acidity and minerality. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Signature cocktails like the Hooligan (tequila, Cointreau, agave nectar, lime, and jalapeño with a Tajín rim) and the Mars Mocha (chocolate rum, Cognac, espresso, banana, and toasted sesame froth) embody the slick, suave vibe that Mars has become known for. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024 Rose Lombardo’s suave flute was a delight to hear in the Pantomime. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024 Boys liked his jokes; girls liked his suave smile and sensitive eyes. Christopher Maag, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 And James’s suave, deceptively mutable and poignant baritone is a beautiful complement for her. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suave.' 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

French, from Middle French, pleasant, sweet, from Latin suavis — more at sweet

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suave was in 1831

Cite this Entry

“Suave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suave. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

suave

adjective
suaver; suavest
: smoothly polite and agreeable
a suave young man
suavely adverb
suaveness noun
suavity noun

More from Merriam-Webster on suave

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