as in silky
smooth or delicate in appearance or feel
the downy surface of a ripe peach
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downy
Two tall sandhill crane parents strutted through the marsh, their downy red colt toddling behind them.
—
Anne Readel, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
Reviled as rats with wings or, by a slimmer margin, beloved as downy, dirty urban icons, pigeons seem as much a part of New York as its skyline.
—Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Nests can take up to three months to build, and typically contain sticks, grass, moss, cornstalks, lichen, fine woody material, downy feathers and sometimes greenery.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 1 May 2025
In the center of all those pointy twigs will be a cup shape of soft and downy materials that will cradle the eggs and the new babies.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downy
Anne Readel, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
Reviled as rats with wings or, by a slimmer margin, beloved as downy, dirty urban icons, pigeons seem as much a part of New York as its skyline.
—Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Nests can take up to three months to build, and typically contain sticks, grass, moss, cornstalks, lichen, fine woody material, downy feathers and sometimes greenery.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 1 May 2025
In the center of all those pointy twigs will be a cup shape of soft and downy materials that will cradle the eggs and the new babies.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downy
Adjective
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Formulated for normal to dry skin, this gentle daily facial cleanser transforms from a silky oil to a soft, lathering foam that deeply cleanses your skin, effectively removing dirt, excess oil and stubborn makeup without clogging pores, leaving residue or a greasy feeling.—
Adam Mills,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Pair these sleek wide-leg jeans with a button-down shirt, or a silky blouse and heels for an office-appropriate style.—
Jessie Quinn,
Flow Space,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Pop a satin version on top of your usual night-out curls to make the 'do feel glamorous.—
Jasmine Washington,
Seventeen,
18 Jan. 2023
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From satin pillowcases to a hydrating moisturizer, all of these products are on sale for less than $25.—
Isabel Garcia,
Peoplemag,
13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Traditional shades of red and green remain present, but they’re joined by bubble gum pink and soft blue for a more eclectic palette.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
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Tejasvi designed it with large-font type to make text easier to see and read, and a soft, blue theme intended to be soothing to people who may come to the site fresh from a scam and be fearful or frazzled.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downy. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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