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Synonym Chooser

How is the word elegant different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of elegant are choice, dainty, delicate, exquisite, and rare. While all these words mean "having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste," elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

When is it sensible to use choice instead of elegant?

In some situations, the words choice and elegant are roughly equivalent. However, choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

Where would dainty be a reasonable alternative to elegant?

Although the words dainty and elegant have much in common, dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

When is delicate a more appropriate choice than elegant?

The meanings of delicate and elegant largely overlap; however, delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

When would exquisite be a good substitute for elegant?

While in some cases nearly identical to elegant, exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

When might rare be a better fit than elegant?

While the synonyms rare and elegant are close in meaning, rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elegant If a resort-style experience is more your speed, complete with onsite spas, restaurants, and golf courses, try the elegant Marriott Hutchinson Island Beach Resort, Golf & Marina or Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa. Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025 Designed by structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and architect Norman Foster, the viaduct combines elegant design with structural strength, making it as much a work of art as a transportation artery. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025 The cable knit is subtle yet elegant, plus the thick fabric is an ideal layer. Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025 And the director makes discerning use of Freya Arde’s elegant score. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elegant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elegant
Adjective
  • In addition to beautiful blooms, October Magic® Ivory™ Camellia produces handsome evergreen foliage and develops a graceful, upright shape.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Mickey, already back up top, stretched a graceful dive that made no splash.
    David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This extraordinary collection of two volumes of poems and a third of prose shows the empathy, intuition, and exquisite use of the natural world that make Oliver the heiress of Emerson and Thoreau.
    AudioFile Magazine September 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Want to explore the moon in exquisite detail?
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Why is Glen Powell so determined to hide his handsome face?
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The brassy fanfare of mariachi music was first played in the region’s rural reaches and popularized in Guadalajara’s handsome plazas.
    David Shortell, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The new qubits rely on erbium, a rare-earth element valued for its clean optical properties and strong magnetic interactions.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Instant Game Maker gives kids the rare thrill of turning their doodles into actual playable video games.
    Emily Glover, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • On one hand, CJ McCollum is a perfectly fine starting point guard.
    Law Murray, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • He was sentenced to serve seven days in a DUI education center and ordered to pay a $350 fine and court fees.
    Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There are a select few who carry the sleepers on their backs.
    Stan Son, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The payout for select customers includes up to $1 of credit to be applied toward future ParkMobile service fees.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Elegant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elegant. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on elegant

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