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 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 The Amalfi Coast is famously sultry, comprising 13 villages that are sprinkled along a rugged shore. — Natalie Hammond, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 June 2026 Eight honey scent perfumes stand out for 2026, spanning fresh florals, sultry tobacco blends and modern niche releases. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026 The effect is a subtle, smoky depth that reads as effortlessly sultry rather than overdone. — Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 2 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
  • It’s been an unusually humid summer for more than 215 million people across the United States — a pattern that’s recently been on full display and part of a long-term trend.
    — Ben Noll, Washington Post, 29 July 2026
  • According to the Storm Prediction Center, thunderstorms with severe wind gusts will be possible in the region, where warm, humid air is creating an unstable atmosphere.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of humid
Adjective
  • But just as staggering was one of the overnight lows, which dipped to only a searing 97 degrees F (36 degrees C)—a tie for the hottest low that the city’s ever seen, a record first set just three years ago.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 30 July 2026
  • But another breakdown, an hour west of Seligman, stranded me in the searing heat.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of searing
Adjective
  • Like many inland dikes, the barrier in agricultural fields near the small town of Waddinxveen, east of The Hague, is made of peat that needs to be damp to be strong enough to hold back water.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • In the hallway that night, Miriam had moved close to touch Birdie’s flushed cheek, damp and hot with the sickness.
    — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 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
  • The obvious choice for an entrée is Bouchon’s famous steak frites, a tender filet served with a mound of hot and crunchy fries.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Torres’ mofongo is more mash than mush, aggressive with garlic and hot with black pepper.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 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
  • Why bench Rebekah Gardner, the team’s best perimeter defender, against Indiana (with Fiebich unavailable) when Kelsey Mitchell has been absolutely molten lately?
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Beyond this, next generation reactor technologies, several of which are being deployed, use coolants such as helium, molten salt, and liquid metal instead of water.
    — Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of molten

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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 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sultry for Spanish Speakers

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