LITHE Synonyms: 153 Similar and Opposite Words

lithe

adjective

ˈlīt͟h

Definition of lithe

as in flexible

able to bend easily without breaking the lithe blade of a fencing foil

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in graceful

moving easily lithe dancers glided across the stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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 lithe The herd’s lithe necks drifted above the bush in one ethereal mass, moving like a corps de ballet against a pale blue sky. — Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026 And while the curb weight is a good deal more than a Miata or BRZ, compared to the usual diet of crossovers and EVs, the Prelude feels remarkably lithe and nimble. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2026 Gershon’s Corky, lithe and tattooed, ended up being the stuff of butch lesbian dreams — which apparently held true offscreen as much as on. — Caroline Framke, Vulture, 8 June 2026 The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is clean, lithe, and snappy. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lithe

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lithe

Adjective

Doctors insert a thin, flexible catheter into a blood vessel and steer it up to the heart using real-time imaging guidance to place a sealing device.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Demand for oil plunged during the war — much more than oil industry analysts had expected — proving that the world is much more flexible about its oil usage than previously believed.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of flexible

Adjective

As a young and impressionable onlooker, Dzeko looked huge (at 6ft 4in/193cm) yet so graceful on the ball.

— Amitai Winehouse, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Bryan Singer’s ingenious thriller is both a graceful callback to ’50s potboilers and a savage modernization of them.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of graceful

Adjective

Masters, tall and slender, forded the frigid waist-deep water to wake up his father and convince the 63-year-old to evacuate.

— Ren Larson, ProPublica, 2 Sep. 2026
The shoes paired with the Dolce & Gabbana dress featured a slender strap across the toes and curved straps around the top of the foot and ankle forming a diamond with concave sides.

— Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of slender

Adjective

However, the primary reason for these willowy airfoils is entirely practical.

— David Szondy August 04, New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026
Cosmos Cosmos help create an ethereal-looking garden, thanks to their long, willowy stems and bright, fluffy blooms that come in dozens of vibrant colors, from rich chocolate cosmos to delicate ‘Apricotta’ tones.

— Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 8 July 2026

Definition of willowy

Adjective

Her humdrum life gives way to beach bonfires at sunset (lensed by Tudor Vladimir Panduru and Fabian Gamper in stunning dusky blues and pinks) and skinny-dipping in the river.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
These ankle-length skinny jeans come in a dark wash similar to the actress’s, as well as seven other shades.

— Melony Forcier, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

Medium-colored drapes with white plastic backings block about 33% of incoming heat.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
On the side streets, small stands sell bad food and plastic trinkets, while a few Travellers, Ireland’s indigenous nomads, work rival fortune-telling franchises.

— Susan Neiman, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of plastic

Adjective

Deposition systems add extremely thin layers of material onto a silicon wafer.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
That’s the thin line between moving on to play for an NFC championship and trudging into the heaviest first stage of the offseason.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

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
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

Definition of limber

Browse Nearby Words

literati

lithe

litheness

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“Lithe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lithe. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lithe

adjective

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