suave

[ swahv ]

adjective

, suav·er, suav·est.

1. (of persons or their manner, speech, etc.) smoothly agreeable or polite; agreeably or blandly urbane.

   Synonyms: worldly, sophisticated

suave

/ ˈswɑːvɪtɪ; swɑːv /

adjective

1. (esp of a man) displaying smoothness and sophistication in manner or attitude; urbane

Derived Forms

• suavity, noun
• ˈsuavely, adverb

Other Words From

• suavely adverb
• suaveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of suave¹

1495–1505; < French < Latin suāvis sweet

Word History and Origins

Origin of suave¹

C16: from Latin suāvis sweet

Example Sentences

His campaign would like to mitigate that by allowing him to beguile a few women with his suave charm.

From Salon

Still only 46 years old, France’s suave leader can already point back to a glittering career path strewn with obstacles avoided or overcome.

From BBC

“For somebody who’s really suave at it,” Murray said, “the possibilities are really endless.”

From Los Angeles Times

Then there’s “The Dealer,” Leo Castelli, a suave and affable Italian expatriate to New York who engineered the rise of American Pop, including Rauschenberg, to commercial success.

From Los Angeles Times

Pathetic, because he wants so badly to be seen as suave and attractive, but fails miserably at it.

From Salon

Related Words

• affable
• courteous
• courtly
• genial
• ingratiating
• polite
• soft-spoken
• sophisticated
• urbane
• worldly