sultrier; sultriest
1
a
: very hot and humid : sweltering
a sultry day
b
: burning hot : torrid
a sultry sun
2
a
: hot with passion or anger
b
: exciting or capable of exciting strong sexual desire
sultry glances
Examples of sultry in a Sentence
In the one Manet Stephen owned, Young Woman Reclining in Spanish Costume (1862–1863), the plump young model provokes us with her sultry gaze, her awkward semi-recumbent position, her casually defiant cross-dressing in a male torero's shiny trousers, and the come-hither implication of her highlighted hands …
—
John Updike, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006
As the fireflies entertain humans all summer long with a magical light show, they are actually cruising the sultry nights in search of love. "Male fireflies fly around flashing their advertisement," says evolutionary ecologist Sara Lewis of Tufts, one of the authors of the study, which appeared in the journal Science recently.
—Betsy Mason, Orlando Sentinel, 22 July 2001
In an age when the gangsta rapper is king and pubescent boy and girl groups rule the charts with a tough … version of adolescent bubble-gum pop, Toni Braxton is an anomaly. Her sultry good looks, rich, husky contralto and ability to deliver a line with such mature conviction make her seem older, more experienced than her 26 years.
—Gordon Chambers, Essence, April 1994
She looked at him with a sultry glance.
an actress with a sultry voice
John Updike, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006
As the fireflies entertain humans all summer long with a magical light show, they are actually cruising the sultry nights in search of love. "Male fireflies fly around flashing their advertisement," says evolutionary ecologist Sara Lewis of Tufts, one of the authors of the study, which appeared in the journal Science recently.
—Betsy Mason, Orlando Sentinel, 22 July 2001
In an age when the gangsta rapper is king and pubescent boy and girl groups rule the charts with a tough … version of adolescent bubble-gum pop, Toni Braxton is an anomaly. Her sultry good looks, rich, husky contralto and ability to deliver a line with such mature conviction make her seem older, more experienced than her 26 years.
—Gordon Chambers, Essence, April 1994
She looked at him with a sultry glance.
an actress with a sultry voice
Recent Examples on the Web
Kassi Ashton and Parker McCollum team up for a sultry new ballad, Charles Wesley Godwin joins musical forces with Ernest, and Dani Rose partners with Brent Cobb.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Mar. 2025
One of Wilde's past Vanity Fair Oscar Party looks even solely included a leather bra and one-shoulder gown, making for a sultry moment for all to take note of.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Think rich, sultry berry tones that flatter pretty much everyone, from fair to deep skin tones.
—Maria Correa, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
After having a major moment in 2023, the peekaboo bralette trend dominated red carpets last year, with stars including Selena Gomez, Sydney Sweeney and Elizabeth Debicki modeling the sultry fad at high-profile events like the GLAAD Awards and the Academy Museum Gala.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 2 Mar. 2025
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Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Mar. 2025
One of Wilde's past Vanity Fair Oscar Party looks even solely included a leather bra and one-shoulder gown, making for a sultry moment for all to take note of.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Think rich, sultry berry tones that flatter pretty much everyone, from fair to deep skin tones.
—Maria Correa, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
After having a major moment in 2023, the peekaboo bralette trend dominated red carpets last year, with stars including Selena Gomez, Sydney Sweeney and Elizabeth Debicki modeling the sultry fad at high-profile events like the GLAAD Awards and the Academy Museum Gala.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sultry
Articles Related to sultry
Cite this Entry
“Sultry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sultry. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
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