sultrier; sultriest
1
a
: very hot and humid : sweltering
a sultry day
b
: burning hot : torrid
a sultry sun
2
a
: hot with passion or anger
b
: exciting or capable of exciting strong sexual desire
sultry glances
Examples of sultry in a Sentence
In the one Manet Stephen owned, Young Woman Reclining in Spanish Costume (1862–1863), the plump young model provokes us with her sultry gaze, her awkward semi-recumbent position, her casually defiant cross-dressing in a male torero's shiny trousers, and the come-hither implication of her highlighted hands …
—
John Updike, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006
As the fireflies entertain humans all summer long with a magical light show, they are actually cruising the sultry nights in search of love. "Male fireflies fly around flashing their advertisement," says evolutionary ecologist Sara Lewis of Tufts, one of the authors of the study, which appeared in the journal Science recently.
—Betsy Mason, Orlando Sentinel, 22 July 2001
In an age when the gangsta rapper is king and pubescent boy and girl groups rule the charts with a tough … version of adolescent bubble-gum pop, Toni Braxton is an anomaly. Her sultry good looks, rich, husky contralto and ability to deliver a line with such mature conviction make her seem older, more experienced than her 26 years.
—Gordon Chambers, Essence, April 1994
She looked at him with a sultry glance.
an actress with a sultry voice
John Updike, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006
As the fireflies entertain humans all summer long with a magical light show, they are actually cruising the sultry nights in search of love. "Male fireflies fly around flashing their advertisement," says evolutionary ecologist Sara Lewis of Tufts, one of the authors of the study, which appeared in the journal Science recently.
—Betsy Mason, Orlando Sentinel, 22 July 2001
In an age when the gangsta rapper is king and pubescent boy and girl groups rule the charts with a tough … version of adolescent bubble-gum pop, Toni Braxton is an anomaly. Her sultry good looks, rich, husky contralto and ability to deliver a line with such mature conviction make her seem older, more experienced than her 26 years.
—Gordon Chambers, Essence, April 1994
She looked at him with a sultry glance.
an actress with a sultry voice
Recent Examples on the Web
The pop star also wore a push-up bra top made of glittering rhinestones — while giving the camera a sultry look from inside a tub of water, face full of makeup — for the album's main cover.
—Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The whole operation exudes good vibes; the sultry Recife sun is not the only source of warmth in the room.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
While Mastrantonio had Claudia exploring heavy eyeliner and sultry red lipstick, Pegoretti worked with different wigs to express Claudia’s desire to appear more age appropriate.
—Carita Rizzo, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
The 33-year-old singer and actress gave fans an intimate glimpse into her bedtime routine with a sultry mirror selfie shared from what appears to be her bedroom.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sultry
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Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The whole operation exudes good vibes; the sultry Recife sun is not the only source of warmth in the room.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
While Mastrantonio had Claudia exploring heavy eyeliner and sultry red lipstick, Pegoretti worked with different wigs to express Claudia’s desire to appear more age appropriate.
—Carita Rizzo, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
The 33-year-old singer and actress gave fans an intimate glimpse into her bedtime routine with a sultry mirror selfie shared from what appears to be her bedroom.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sultry
Cite this Entry
“Sultry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sultry. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
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