sultry

adjective

ˈsəl-trē How to pronounce sultry (audio)
Definition of sultrynext
1
as in humid
containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture on really sultry days we go to the mall to hang out and cool off

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in searing
having a notably high temperature the incredibly dry, sultry desert air

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 sultry But the mission isn’t the only thing on his mind; brief scenes of Adria Arjona’s investigator give a glimpse at the woman who is every bit Crown’s match in a sultry game of chess. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 29 July 2026 The Alta Moda closing show in Sicily saw the entertainer donning stunning, sultry custom looks for the supremely lavish celebration. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 17 July 2026 Or that Penélope Cruz’s sultry chilliness would jibe with either her male counterparts or Wilde’s diary-of-a-mad-housewife interpretation of a brittle, eager-to-impress woman brimming with creative frustration. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026 After a sultry stretch, weather conditions in parts of the Midwest and East are about to get more refreshing for the final week of the astronomical spring season. — Ben Noll, Washington Post, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sultry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sultry
  1. humid
  2. searing
  3. damp
  4. boiling
  5. hot
  6. burning
  7. molten
Adjective
  • Before the rain arrives, Kansas City should see warm, humid conditions as temperatures climb to around 80 degrees, slightly above the metro’s 74-degree average typical for this time of year.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The crab was sidling along one of the outside walkways, where the thick, humid air lingered close to the ground.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of humid
Adjective
  • After winning the prestigious Golden Eye, Plambech returns with another searing analysis of the immigrant experience.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The durable porcelain enamel exterior resists chipping and cracking, while the matte black interior enhances browning and searing.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of searing
Adjective
  • Harryson says the roots should be kept from drying out while the plant is out of the ground, so make sure to cover them with a damp cloth or wet newspaper.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Oribe’s formula is light enough to disappear into damp strands while still strengthening hair that breaks easily.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of damp
Adjective
  • More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Definition of boiling
Adjective
  • An extreme hear watch has been issued for the Los Angeles metro area in anticipation of highs reaching 100 degrees on Saturday and remaining hot through next week.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Here in Los Angeles, the last few months have been exceptionally hot.
    — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of hot
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said some of the money was used for recruiting new members and purchasing Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning ceremonies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
Definition of burning
Adjective
  • Striking a pose with her hands on her hips, the White Lotus actress—who last attended the VMAs in 2024 in an optical illusion hooded corset gown—showed off two-inch-long curved nude nails and encased each finger in molten silver half-moon rings.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, the rover found igneous rocks that originally formed from molten material deep underground or through volcanic activity.
    — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of molten

Browse Nearby Words

sultriness
sultry
sum
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Cite this Entry

“Sultry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sultry. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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