Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

smooth

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of smooth

1 having or showing very polished and worldly manners

  • a smooth salesman of expensive jewelry
Synonyms of smooth

debonair, sophisticated, suave, svelte, urbane
Words Related to smooth

cavalier, glib, slick, unctuous

civilized, couth, cultivated, cultured, genteel, graceful, gracious, poised, polished, refined, well-bred

cosmopolitan, metro, metropolitan, smart, worldly-wise

experienced, knowing, practiced (also practised), schooled, seasoned

amiable, appealing, attractive

assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed
Near Antonyms of smooth

awkward, clumsy, gauche, graceless, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden

callow, green, inexperienced, puerile, raw

hick, parochial, provincial, rough-hewn, rustic (also rustical)

inelegant, philistine, uncivilized, uncultured, unrefined

unsophisticated, unworldly

gawky, lubberly, stodgy, ungainly

diffident, insecure
Antonyms of smooth

boorish, churlish, classless, clownish, loutish, uncouth

2 involving minimal difficulty or effort

  • it should be smooth going from this point on
Synonyms of smooth

cheap, downhill, easy, effortless, facile, fluent, fluid, hands-down, light, painless, ready, royal, simple, snap, soft
Words Related to smooth

idiotproof, mindless, quick, straightforward, unchallenging, uncomplicated

apparent, clear, clear-cut, distinct, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable
Near Antonyms of smooth

burdensome, exhausting, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful, taxing, troublesome

abstruse, complex, complicated, intricate, involved, knotty, problematic (also problematical), recondite
Antonyms of smooth

arduous, demanding, difficult, exacting, formidable, grueling (or gruelling), hard, herculean, killer, labored, laborious, murderous, rough, severe, stiff, strenuous, toilful, toilsome, tough

3 having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities

  • a smooth skating rink
Synonyms of smooth

even, flat, flush, level, plane
Words Related to smooth

exact, uniform

aligned (also alined), regular, true

horizontal, tabular

plumb, straight, vertical
Near Antonyms of smooth

inexact, irregular, unaligned, warped

undulating, undulatory, wavy

pitted, pockmarked, pocky
Antonyms of smooth

bumpy, coarse, lumpy, rough, uneven, unsmoothed

4 free from emotional or mental agitation

  • his smooth disposition and leadership qualities lend themselves well to the position
Synonyms of smooth

calm, collected, composed, cool, coolheaded, equal, level, limpid, peaceful, placid, possessed, recollected, sedate, self-composed, self-possessed, serene, together, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, unruffled, unshaken, untroubled, unworried
Words Related to smooth

even, even-keeled, steady, well-adjusted, well-balanced

imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable

centered, disciplined, equable, self-contained, self-controlled

affable, breezy, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, laid-back, loosey-goosey, mellow

carefree, nonchalant, unconcerned

assured, confident, self-assured

aloof, detached, dispassionate, indifferent

bovine, impassive, phlegmatic, sober, stolid

relaxed, relieved, tranquilized (also tranquillized)
Phrases Synonymous with smooth

at peace
Near Antonyms of smooth

anxious, bothered, distressed, uneasy, unquiet, unsettled, worried

jittery, jumpy, nervous, restless, skittish, tense

high-strung, unstable, uptight
Antonyms of smooth

agitated, discomposed, disturbed, flustered, perturbed, unglued, unhinged, unstrung, upset

Synonym Discussion of smooth

level, flat, plane, even, smooth mean having a surface without bends, curves, or irregularities. level applies to a horizontal surface that lies on a line parallel with the horizon.
    • the vast prairies are nearly level
flat applies to a surface devoid of noticeable curvatures, prominences, or depressions.
    • the work surface must be flat
plane applies to any real or imaginary flat surface in which a straight line between any two points on it lies wholly within that surface.
    • the plane sides of a crystal
even applies to a surface that is noticeably flat or level or to a line that is observably straight.
    • trim the hedge so it is even
smooth applies especially to a polished surface free of irregularities.
    • a smooth skating rink

smooth

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of smooth

1 to free from obstruction or difficulty

  • a willingness to compromise will smooth the way to an early agreement
Synonyms of smooth

ease, facilitate, grease, loosen (up), unclog
Words Related to smooth

accelerate, expedite, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed

advance, forward, further, promote

abet, aid, assist, help, improve

disentangle, straighten (out), untangle

simplify, streamline
Phrases Synonymous with smooth

pave the way (for)
Near Antonyms of smooth

hinder, impede

retard

aggravate, worsen

perplex, sophisticate
Antonyms of smooth

complicate

2 to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps

  • the workers smoothed the surface of the concrete before letting it dry
Synonyms of smooth

even, flatten, level, plane, smoothen
Words Related to smooth

clip, crop, pare, prune, shave, trim

lay, press, spread

card, comb, rake

surface
Near Antonyms of smooth

coarsen, rumple, wrinkle

bend, kink

dent, pit
Antonyms of smooth

rough, roughen

3 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure

  • used fine sandpaper to smooth the face of the wood
Synonyms of smooth

buff, burnish, dress, furbish, gloss, grind, polish, rub, shine, smoothen
Words Related to smooth

sleek, slick

coat, glaze, japan, lacquer, varnish

face, finish, veneer

brighten

file, rasp, sand, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scrub

bob, bone, lap
Near Antonyms of smooth

rough (up), roughen, ruffle, scuff (up)

Learn More about smooth

  1. See words that rhyme with smooth Dictionary: Definition of smooth Medical Dictionary: Definition of smooth Spanish Central: Translation of smooth Nglish: Translation of smooth for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of smooth for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up smooth? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

immure

to enclose within walls

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  2. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

  3. endgame Marvel's Avengers: Endgame

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games