1
as in flexible
able to bend easily without breaking
the lithe blade of a fencing foil
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in graceful
moving easily
lithe dancers glided across the stage
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in slender
having a noticeably small amount of body fat
she has the lithe, sinewy body of a distance runner
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lithe
This larger, lithe-bodied breed will live to be anywhere from 10 to 13 years old.
—
Katelyn Chef, Martha Stewart, 12 Apr. 2026
Paperbacks are lighter and smaller and more lithe, easier to put in a pocket or a backpack and carry around.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
Masri’s drumming is lithe and spacious even at its most aggressive; just as Alcorn’s guitar slides move with a gravity-defying, naturalistic force, his attacks seem to sprout out of each other independently, emerging in thickets.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
The wine tastes juicy and lithe, devoid of heavy tannins, gushing with cranberry and licorice.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lithe
Katelyn Chef, Martha Stewart, 12 Apr. 2026
Paperbacks are lighter and smaller and more lithe, easier to put in a pocket or a backpack and carry around.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
Masri’s drumming is lithe and spacious even at its most aggressive; just as Alcorn’s guitar slides move with a gravity-defying, naturalistic force, his attacks seem to sprout out of each other independently, emerging in thickets.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
The wine tastes juicy and lithe, devoid of heavy tannins, gushing with cranberry and licorice.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lithe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lithe
Adjective
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Suburban growth accelerated during COVID, McShane said, especially with flexible working options.—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2026
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Company leaders said the expansion reflects growing demand for smaller, more flexible grocery footprints in urban areas.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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And the single, graceful bridge that is centered upon the land’s backdrop mountain range closely resembles Pasadena’s own Colorado Street Bridge, although there’s no roaring waterfall next to the original.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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Even with more graceful aging curves for star talent, Father Time spares no player or team.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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Anne loans it to the other (slender) girls in exchange for bars of soap or clothes coupons.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
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The new snake species, which researchers have given the scientific name Calamaria incredibilis, measures at just under eight inches long, is non-venomous, and is identified by its slender, brown scales with seven dark stripes along its back.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Moss-colored chaise longues in the living area, piled with pillows and wool blankets, are perfectly positioned to take in the view, as are the four-poster beds with wool-blend mattresses and willowy gauzy curtains.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
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Given the differences in Western and Eastern beauty standards, and the realities of setting a romance in the hockey world, neither Shane nor Ilya fit the mold of BL’s feminine, willowy bishonen.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Part of the villa juts outward in a dramatic cantilever supported by skinny columns, giving the structure a floating effect when viewed from the surrounding gardens.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
13 May 2026
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Despite being the world’s skinniest skyscraper, this New York tower is still shaking up midtown Manhattan in a big way.—
Rachel Davies,
Architectural Digest,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Cooking utensils and small mounds of clothes are kept in plastic bags or heaped on the ground.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
16 May 2026
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Because the loft was built directly above the entryway, the family had to weave through plastic barriers, ladders and workers to move through the home.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Health experts are growing increasingly alarmed about the outbreak, arguing that cases have been spreading undetected as public health authorities are stretched thin.—
Lauren Weber,
Washington Post,
18 May 2026
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Few of the film’s ideas truly connect with one another, leaving its lead stars adrift in the process, forcing them to conjure three dimensional details from a script that, intentionally or otherwise, feels paper thin.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Two ultra-limber actors — Hassiem Muhammad and Ryan Sellers — in garish body makeup (and dance shoes) merge limbs and psyches for an electric demonstration of poetry in motion.—
Peter Marks,
Washington Post,
26 Jan. 2023
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For thousands of years, people have turned to yoga to feel more limber, release stress and rejuvenate their overall physical and mental health.—
Forrest Brown,
CNN,
21 June 2022
Cite this Entry
“Lithe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lithe. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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