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 The singer, who turned 46 on July 10, rang in the milestone with a sultry bikini snap shared to Instagram on Wednesday, July 29. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 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 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
  • In hot, humid conditions, sweat doesn’t evaporate and cool the body.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Unlike many mosquito species that bite mostly at dawn and dusk, the mosquitoes carrying dengue feed aggressively during daytime hours and thrive in humid residential environments.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of humid
Adjective
  • That was where the first responders found him—sitting calmly and cross-legged, insulated from the intrusive buzz and searing light of the world around him.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Why the ridiculous prices are worth it Bob Baffert grabs a water out of a nearby cooler to keep the searing heat and humidity at bay.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of searing
Adjective
  • Agents of the king found the auburn-haired soldier illuminated by an iron lantern, waiting patiently in the damp basement with a box of matches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
  • To clean these spots, remove vent covers when possible, vacuum them thoroughly with a brush attachment, and wipe them down with a damp cloth, says Raquel Perez, house cleaning expert and owner of Karen’s Green Cleaning.
    — Brigitt Earley, Martha Stewart, 4 Nov. 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
  • Across living spaces, clean doorknobs and light switches, vacuum carpets thoroughly and sweep then mop hard floors with hot soapy water.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Long story short, campers stay warmer on cold nights and cooler on hot nights without a loud, emissions-spewing engine or generator running in the background.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 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
  • The rock contains a distinctive mixture of igneous minerals, formed when molten material cooled and solidified.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Rather than dealing with molten salts and potential phase transition, 247Solar heats up ceramic pellets roughly the size of a golf ball.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 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 12 Nov. 2026.

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