1
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
2
as in graceful
moving easily
lithe dancers glided across the stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Fewer songs would have made the update more lithe and ebullient.
—
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for lithe
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for lithe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lithe
Adjective
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For mothers without access to flexible or remote work, summer break is associated with a significant drop in earnings and work hours.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
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This result suggests that a tiny insect brain can support surprisingly flexible behavior, according to James Nieh, a professor in the department of ecology, behavior and evolution at the University of California San Diego, who was not involved with the study.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Time for a graceful exit strategy.—
Kevin Brazil,
Harpers Magazine,
9 June 2026
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Chestnuts bloom in these graceful, long pine-tree shapes, which look like a symbol of something.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Open views stretch south toward the supertalls along Billionaires’ Row and west toward the Central Park Reservoir over the slender white spire of the landmark Brick Presbyterian Church.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
9 June 2026
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The model and Kora Organics founder opted for the Blossom style from the French luxury house in white patent calf leather, with a slim open toe, a narrow front strap and a slender ankle strap that looped behind the heel.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Shredded vegetables — carrot, ginger, papaya, shallot and cucumber, some pickled and some fresh — are arranged, per the original name, over top in willowy repose.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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The first-class crew are divinely shady, with willowy Brooke Lynn Hytes making Amber a kind of drag Disney villainess.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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But his own journey was not easy; at eight, he was rejected by the Croatian club Hajduk Split for being too skinny and too short.—
Sanat Pai Raikar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 June 2026
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This wide-leg style has a high-rise, straight-leg fit, perfect for complementing a skinny belt and a polished top, such as a collared shirt or a silk shirt.—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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Tough to go back to nachos with plastic cheese after that, huh?—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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Often mixed in to the beat are noisemakers like matracas – wooden objects in the shape of flags that produce a loud clacking sound when spun – and plastic horns called cornetas, which fans use to keep the matches animated from start to finish.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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The worst place at a factory to work for was always the screen-printing department—the hot metal and lacquer thinner produce pungent toxins that workers have no choice but to inhale.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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While knee-high boots are ideal for a concert or a shopping day, don’t be afraid to go casual via thin sneakers or flip-flops.—
India Roby,
Glamour,
8 June 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 10 Jun. 2026.
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