lithe

adjective

ˈlīt͟h How to pronounce lithe (audio)
Definition of lithenext
1
as in flexible
able to bend easily without breaking the lithe blade of a fencing foil

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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 lithe 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 Earlier that week, the lithe 28-year-old walked the film festival’s storied red carpet wearing a custom Vivienne Westwood tuxedo and, of course, a shirt unbuttoned almost to the navel. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lithe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lithe
  1. flexible
  2. graceful
  3. slender
  4. willowy
  5. skinny
  6. plastic
  7. thin
  8. limber
Adjective
  • Companies should offer paid leave and flexible arrangements so new mothers aren't penalized at the exact moment their responsibilities increase.
    — Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • It’s made with flexible material that lets kids wiggle into a comfortable position.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Definition of flexible
Adjective
  • Roman designer Ludovica Malagò, who cofounded Studio Malià with Gaia Rebecchini, demonstrates one graceful way to do so in this recent project.
    — Francesca Longoni, Architectural Digest, 18 July 2026
  • Liu dazzled audiences with her graceful moves and flawless tricks on the ice.
    — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Definition of graceful
Adjective
  • The sandals feature simple, elegant lines that come together in an innovative design, characterized by a slender strap that starts as a slingback and wraps around the foot, culminating in a wavy design over the toe.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
  • The image depicts a fairly slender-looking screen-free wearable, but one that looks distinctly wider than the Fitbit Air.
    — Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of slender
Adjective
  • 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
  • Or gawky characters, all angular bone structures and willowy limbs?
    — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Definition of willowy
Adjective
  • Granny jeans are a stylish alternative to skinny jeans and flare jeans.
    — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 17 July 2026
  • We're used to seeing the Galaxy Z Fold in a tall-and-skinny chassis, but this time around, whispers are growing louder about a new passport-style shape that's more reminiscent of the first-generation Google Pixel Fold.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • Deep clean blinds by soaking vinyl or plastic ones or spot-cleaning fabric and wooden types.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
  • The production feels more grounded and more nuanced than that of The Secret of Us, whose rootsy foundation sometimes had a plastic sheen.
    — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
Definition of plastic
Adjective
  • It is composed of extremely thin layers of iron selenide, or FeSe, which are embedded repeatedly throughout a much larger three-dimensional crystal.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
  • Those areas are likely be less impressive in the thin air of the vehicle’s namesake town.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 19 July 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lithe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lithe. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on lithe

Nglish: Translation of lithe for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stalwart

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All