graceful

[ greys-fuhl ]

adjective

1. characterized by elegance or beauty of form, manner, movement, or speech; elegant: a graceful reply.

   a graceful dancer;

   a graceful reply.

   Synonyms: lissome, lithe, limber

graceful

/ ˈɡreɪsfʊl /

adjective

1. characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈgracefully, adverb
• ˈgracefulness, noun

Other Words From

• grace·ful·ly adverb
• grace·ful·ness noun
• non·grace·ful adjective
• non·grace·ful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of graceful¹

A late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; grace, -ful

Example Sentences

“The president can use existing laws to give them incentives for early retirement and to make voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit,” they wrote.

From New York Times

Along the silky shawl’s upper edge, Leonardo traced a razor-thin arc of reflected light that leads directly into a graceful background bridge across a river, linking near and far.

From Los Angeles Times

“He seemed so graceful and effortless the way he did the show,” Kimmel adds, “but there was so much about Johnny that I don’t think anybody living knows.”

From Los Angeles Times

Martha Stewart, the brand and the person, is graceful and ordered, like the gardens that give her life purpose.

From Salon

With a metatheatrical nod and a graceful swap of a shawl, Auberjonois then plays the comedian for the majority of the piece.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• balletic
• beautiful
• decorative
• delicate
• elegant
• exquisite
• handsome
• limber
• lithe
• neat
• nimble
• refined
• rhythmic
• shapely
• slender
• smooth
• supple
• symmetrical
• tasteful