graceful

adjective

ˈgrās-fəl How to pronounce graceful (audio)
Definition of gracefulnext
1
as in agile
moving easily the graceful ballerina effortlessly leapt across the stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in elegant
having or showing elegance sat down in the old plantation home's very graceful parlor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 graceful This beautiful retrospective volume shows a poet developing steadily, from the graceful descriptions and encoded trauma of the poems from the 1990s through the loosening music and political engagement of the books of the last ten years. — Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 As yet, these machines are not graceful, elegant or aesthetically pleasing. — Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026 Its graceful design is meant to celebrate the intricate beauty of the natural world. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2026 Urbanie Lucero’s choreography and movement direction maintain the production’s graceful poise. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for graceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for graceful
  1. agile
  2. elegant
  3. nimble
  4. handsome
  5. balletic
  6. fine
  7. gracile
  8. majestic
Adjective
  • Those with distinct points of view and an agile instinct for the moment cut through the quiet while the city continues to draw global activations.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • This process of neurogenesis (building new neurons) and constructing new nerve connections (also known as synapses) strengthens your memory and keeps your brain agile and ready to learn.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of agile
Adjective
  • An all-black look never fails to look elegant and serves as a contrasting backdrop to your zebra-print bag.
    — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Later, she’s entertained by a mouse running along the baseboard of one of London’s more elegant restaurants.
    — Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of elegant
Adjective
  • This particular Zenbook 14 runs on an AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 CPU, a 2026 chip built to handle heavy productivity sessions, nimble multitasking, and local AI tasks.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Slot receivers are often the quickest and most nimble route runners, and Freeman is no different.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of nimble
Adjective
  • This handsome volume runs through 90 European venues, breaking down their unique features, acoustic qualities and performance histories (recent and not so).
    — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Skarsgård’s wicker man is tall, blonde and handsome on the outside, but hollow by design.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of handsome
Adjective
  • Atwell displays a balletic athleticism while Hiddleston is all enthusiastic limbs and snake hips.
    — Zing Tsjeng, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The combat scenes, frequently pitting Latif’s sharpened steel against more popular American weaponry, are staged with whirling verve, wit and, best of all, balletic coherence.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of balletic
Adjective
  • Miami did a relatively fine job in Weeks 2 and 3 against some of the most talented backs in Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers and Kenneth Walker of the Chiefs but slipped up the two games prior to the bye against the Vikings and Bengals.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Mario Prada sourced fine leathers, silver, silk and crystal from Europe and beyond and these are on public display in Milan for the first time.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fine
Adjective
  • Alvarezsaurs were predominantly small, with stubby but powerful forelimbs, long and gracile hindlimbs and lightly built skulls.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Hawkins misplaced horns and spikes, and some of his robust four-legged dinosaurs were actually gracile bipeds.
    — Yannic Rack, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023
Definition of gracile
Adjective
  • Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth inning and followed with a majestic bat flip as the Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 Thursday for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Nearby is Mastro's steakhouse, and right outside is a canopy of majestic oak trees and cascading fountains.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of majestic

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Cite this Entry

“Graceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/graceful. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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