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 stunning architecture, great meals and sultry tango make this city a divine place to visit throughout the year.
—Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Massage mode feels positively sultry at around 102 bpm – think Stevie Wonder's Superstition.
—Loz Blain
july 13, New Atlas, 13 July 2025
Editor’s tip: The property hosts a ground-floor café that serves Kyoto-style coffee and a sultry new speakeasy and vinyl room for after-hours listening sessions.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 July 2025
Shortly after, the love planet will meet with Mars in a sultry square in your relationship sector on July 23, creating tension that could fuel a passionate exchange between you and a significant other.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sultry
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Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Massage mode feels positively sultry at around 102 bpm – think Stevie Wonder's Superstition.
—Loz Blain
july 13, New Atlas, 13 July 2025
Editor’s tip: The property hosts a ground-floor café that serves Kyoto-style coffee and a sultry new speakeasy and vinyl room for after-hours listening sessions.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 July 2025
Shortly after, the love planet will meet with Mars in a sultry square in your relationship sector on July 23, creating tension that could fuel a passionate exchange between you and a significant other.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 July 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 26 Jul. 2025.
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