1
as in nonchalant
having or showing freedom from worries or troubles
his debonair dismissal of my inquiry concerning his financial situation led me to believe that nothing was wrong
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sophisticated
having or showing very polished and worldly manners
the debonair gentleman charmed all of the ladies in the room
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debonair
Based in New York City and Chicago, Richter seamlessly honors the building’s long-standing history with debonair interiors that feel like a nod to old (and new) New York and are also inspired by the elegance of Paris.
—
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2025
Chinese movie star Hu Ge gives a debonair lead performance as Ah Bao, a mysterious power player who owes his rapid rise to the tutelage of an elderly ex-con, Uncle Ye (You Benchang).
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
Riquelme Vega, a major Chilean drug importer; and Raffaele Imperiale, a debonair Italian linked to the Camorra.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
That tone deafness aside, Usher knows how to command a stage and leave a debonair impression.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for debonair
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2025
Chinese movie star Hu Ge gives a debonair lead performance as Ah Bao, a mysterious power player who owes his rapid rise to the tutelage of an elderly ex-con, Uncle Ye (You Benchang).
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
Riquelme Vega, a major Chilean drug importer; and Raffaele Imperiale, a debonair Italian linked to the Camorra.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
That tone deafness aside, Usher knows how to command a stage and leave a debonair impression.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for debonair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debonair
Adjective
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Fagen’s nonchalant cameo, though, got the Steely Dan community in a tizzy.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
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Scott inflicts Ohm’s nonchalant meanness with a piercingly perverse matter-of-factness that places the character as far away as possible from the realm of likeability.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Born from the embers of the eighties band Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, led by the singer and guitarist Amelia Fletcher, shuffled forward with her riffy, effervescent playing style, gradually growing more sophisticated across four LPs and an EP, without any loss of buoyancy.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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Analysts say the groups are secretly cooperating with Iran’s government despite public claims of independence, using sophisticated bandwidth to spread content across restricted networks.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Cruising to tropical destinations may sound carefree and a bucket-list best, but some of the most popular ports come with safety concerns travelers should not ignore, industry experts say.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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It’s designed with a lightweight, ribbed knit that channels the carefree vibe of a cool summer evening at the beach, while the V-neck cut remains easy to put on or remove in a hurry at TSA.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Every element had been carefully considered, Tabitha noted, the suave austerity of the Wassily chairs orbited by antique rugs and estate-sale paintings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
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The suave Hernández character Domingo appeared briefly but was conked on the noggin by White, who also achieved Five-Timers status, but as a musical guest.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Midi lengths refuse to commit to long or short camps, settling in the middle for a moment that's polished and truly insouciant.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
1 Apr. 2026
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There is nothing insouciant about me.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The graceful curves of Boston’s beloved Swan Boats took shape today in the Public Garden just in time for the warm weather and another season of peaceful paddle rides around the lagoon.—
Boston Herald staff,
Boston Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
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The artwork shows a man at the center with an arm raised in a graceful gesture, surrounded by a large crowd.—
Sofia Baltodano,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The fact that anyone at the top is shocked by snaking security lines at airports is of a piece with the administration’s rather cavalier approach to contingency planning.—
Juliette Kayyem,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
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Each crossbreed comes from a poodle bred with a cavalier King Charles spaniel, cocker spaniel, or Labrador retriever.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-skinned developing world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
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One does detect in Iran hawks a kind of 'will to destruction' and hatred of boring, civilized diplomacy.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debonair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debonair. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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