as in silky
smooth or delicate in appearance or feel
the downy surface of a ripe peach
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Recent Examples of downy
Its large, wall-size windows, their casements painted a downy shade of white, look out across Bedford Street onto a row of old and characterful brownstones, including number 75½, whose façade, at nine and a half feet across, is allegedly the city’s narrowest (and therefore most charming).
—
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2025
Jackie has over 7,000 waterproof feathers on her body that help keep her dry and downy feathers that keep her warm, Steers previously said.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 27 Jan. 2025
The shape of the breeds' eyes, ears, paws and tails helps deflect cold temperatures, and many have a double coat, with water-resistant bristles giving way to longer, downy fur.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
This year, an enormous king penguin chick named Pesto — a 50-pound tower of downy brown fluff at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, in Australia — became a textbook case.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for downy
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2025
Jackie has over 7,000 waterproof feathers on her body that help keep her dry and downy feathers that keep her warm, Steers previously said.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 27 Jan. 2025
The shape of the breeds' eyes, ears, paws and tails helps deflect cold temperatures, and many have a double coat, with water-resistant bristles giving way to longer, downy fur.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
This year, an enormous king penguin chick named Pesto — a 50-pound tower of downy brown fluff at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, in Australia — became a textbook case.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for downy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downy
Adjective
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Sinners is one of the great vampire movies of the modern age, mining the legend of these perpetual outsiders who desperately yearn to belong, but whose silky promises are rooted in treachery.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
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Legends Luxury Hewett Luxe Smooth Egyptian Cotton Sateen Bed Sheet Set $349 $279 The Company Store Cotton sateen bed sheets are some of the smoothest, silkiest pieces to sleep on.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
28 Apr. 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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The result is soft, luminous skin that’s also protected from a high UV index.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2025
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The frame is made from a soft velvet fabric that’s extremely comfortable to recline on.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downy. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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