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
Her 2022 Cabernet Franc is garnet colored in the glass and has sultry aromas of crushed violet petal, bell pepper, pencil lead, ripe cherry, and dark chocolate.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
And a social media star making a recipe while all dolled up and explaining her steps in a soft, sultry voice.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Bieber's bra and panties matched the black pillow, and the beauty mogul wore minimal makeup for a natural, sultry look.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Whether the vibe is slinky and sultry or tender, the entire project feels like an instant classic, melding retro production and instrumentation with Faith’s singular perspectives.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sultry
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Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
And a social media star making a recipe while all dolled up and explaining her steps in a soft, sultry voice.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Bieber's bra and panties matched the black pillow, and the beauty mogul wore minimal makeup for a natural, sultry look.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Whether the vibe is slinky and sultry or tender, the entire project feels like an instant classic, melding retro production and instrumentation with Faith’s singular perspectives.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 6 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 2025.
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