1
as in melodic
having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music
the mellow tones of an old violin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
a teacher with a mellow approach to classroom discipline mellow soaps
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pleasant
having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations
mellow and unflappable, the office manager greatly contributes to the work environment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unaffected
having a relaxed, casual manner
a mellow crowd sat on the grass and enjoyed the music coming from the band shell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to mature
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 mellow
Lisa Jhung, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
Things could be settling into a more mellow vibe.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 12 Mar. 2026
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Chill the shot in the refrigerator before taking it to help mellow flavors.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mellow
Adjective
The 3mm lugs provide secure footing on mellow dirt and gravel surfaces, while still allowing the shoe to run smoothly on roads—there’s no slapping sound or feel of hard rubber hitting pavement, or clunkiness from toothy lugs meant for super-technical terrain.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
Things could be settling into a more mellow vibe.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
The British public may also be starting to mellow on China.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Chill the shot in the refrigerator before taking it to help mellow flavors.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mellow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mellow
Adjective
-
Kaye’s style was distinctive in its emphasis on melodic and rhythmically active bass lines.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 Apr. 2026
-
When workshopping the material, however, Psalmayene 24 could feel Lewis’s life begging for a melodic treatment and pivoted to a musical.—
Thomas Floyd,
Washington Post,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In July 2023, Angus Cloud, who played the gentle drug dealer Fezco, died of an accidental overdose (toxicology reports revealed methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and benzodiazepines in his system).—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Something as seemingly innocuous as a gentle tap on the skin signals specialized nerve cells to convert the physical force into an electrical signal to the brain.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The band's courtesy visit was a pleasant break for Japan's first female leader, known for her long working hours and now struggling with strained diplomatic ties with China, the fallouts from the war in the Middle East as well as rising prices at home.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The band’s courtesy visit was a pleasant break for Japan’s first female leader, known for her long working hours and now struggling with strained diplomatic ties with China, the fallouts from the war in the Middle East as well as rising prices at home.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That conviction is unaffected by the Supreme Court action.—
Mark Sherman,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The operations of the plant were unaffected.—
Garrett Downs,Azhar Sukri,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While your brave nature prefers fast outcomes, letting ideas mature in private should put you in a position to act with more confidence in a positive outcome.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
And yet this buildup of talent, enthusiasm, and experience — along with the rare opportunity for a new work to mature over several productions, for varied audiences — has produced an opera that to me feels deeply, unfixably wrong.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The life of the rural region is framed in airy and luminous wide-screen images that recur with a lyrical vision of vast arcs of time amid dramatic social change.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The greatest adjustment in Cornfield’s new music is her lyrical framing.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Spray dry toilet paper with cleansing, soothing and refreshing Pristine to create an instant wet wipe that is actually flushable and safe for your sewer and septic systems.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
There’s something genuinely soothing about checking out for a while—letting a place wash over you, no agenda, no expectations.—
John Vorwald,
Robb Report,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Not a good idea when your intention is to be gracious.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Bottom-liners had also nixed Gehry’s original design for a more gracious lobby with a cafe out front, not the gloomy one installed against his will.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mellow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mellow. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
