First Known Use: 1831
Dictionary
suave
adjective \ˈswäv\
: behaving in a relaxed, confident, and pleasant way in social situations
suav·ersuav·est
Full Definition of SUAVE
1
: smoothly though often superficially gracious and sophisticated
2
: smooth in texture, performance, or style
— suave·ly adverb
— suave·ness noun
— sua·vi·ty \ˈswä-və-tē\ noun
See suave defined for English-language learners
See suave defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of SUAVE
- I am pleased, also, to think I pulled it off. I didn't do anything too stupid or gauche, and even though it was my first time at a spa, I managed to bluff my way through in a suitably suave, urbane fashion without any embarrassing social gaffes. —Will Ferguson, Beauty Tips From Moose Jaw, 2004
- When she had been Miss Tampa, a suave major leaguer had courted her till she found out he was married, with children. —Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 19 Mar. 2001
- Bobby gets a lot of tough love at home. As suave and polite as he seems to outsiders, he has “two personalities,” says his stepmother Wille. “He's a con artist.” His parents kicked him out of the house in August, trying to scare him after he came home drunk at 5 a. m. —Stacy Perman, Time, 25 Oct. 1999
- [+]more
Origin of SUAVE
French, from Middle French, pleasant, sweet, from Latin suavis — more at sweet
Related to SUAVE
Synonym Discussion of SUAVE
suave, urbane, diplomatic, bland, smooth, politic mean pleasantly tactful and well-mannered. suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction <a suave public relations coordinator>. urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience <an urbane traveler>. diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully <a diplomatic negotiator>. bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities <a bland master of ceremonies>. smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity <a smooth salesman>. politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people <a cunningly politic manager>.
Learn More About SUAVE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: sub (noun)Previous Word in the Dictionary: suasoriaAll Words Near: suave
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up suave? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).