sultry

[ suhl-tree ]

adjective

, sul·tri·er, sul·tri·est.

1. oppressively hot and close or moist; sweltering:

   a sultry day.

   Synonyms: humid, stifling, oppressive

2. oppressively hot; emitting great heat:

   the sultry sun.

3. characterized by or associated with sweltering heat:

   sultry work in the fields.

4. characterized by or arousing passion:

   sultry eyes.

sultry

/ ˈsʌltrɪ /

adjective

1. (of weather or climate) oppressively hot and humid
2. characterized by or emitting oppressive heat
3. displaying or suggesting passion; sensual

   sultry eyes

Derived Forms

• ˈsultriness, noun
• ˈsultrily, adverb

Other Words From

• sultri·ly adverb
• sultri·ness noun
• un·sultry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sultry¹

1585–95; sult(e)r (variant of swelter ) + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sultry¹

C16: from obsolete sulter to swelter + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Her provocative stage presence in a dazzling series of Paris by Night videos, her tight-fitting body suits and bikini tops, her bravado and sultry voice made the older generation gasp.

From Los Angeles Times

In February, the singer won the first-ever Grammy for African music performance, for her sultry, gorgeously sung single “Water,” a defining track of the African music wave that’s reshaped the world’s pop and club music.

From Los Angeles Times

His friend Gareth Williams described him as well-loved and kind, with "the deepest, most sultry voice in the world, and a smile that lit up the room."

From BBC

Her version of that is sultry, with a jazz score, the result of watching a lot of Turner Classic Movies at the time she wrote the gag.

From Los Angeles Times

In her sultry Belgian accent, she offered me one.

From New York Times

Related Words

• hot
• muggy
• oppressive
• scorching
• sizzling
• soggy
• sticky
• stifling
• sweltering
• torrid