1
: easily bent or flexed
lithe steel
a lithe vine
2
: characterized by easy flexibility and grace
a lithe dancer
treading with a lithe silent step
also : athletically slim
the most lithe and graspable of waists R. P. Warren
lithely adverb
litheness noun

Examples of lithe in a Sentence

the lithe body of a dancer the lithe blade of a fencing foil
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All of them are lithe, with a classic shark profile, and hunt small fish like mullet. Erik Vance, New York Times, 26 July 2024 Using the 16-Inch MacBook Pro: The Most Specialized MacBook Primarily a desktop replacement or workstation, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is surprisingly dense if you’re otherwise used to tossing around a lithe MacBook Air. PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024 English Meaning: Man of peace, slim, lithe, slender Famous Namesakes: Slim Whitman Peak Popularity: This name has not appeared on the Social Security list of popular baby names.2 Whimsy Lou Smith Whimsy Lou, the youngest Smith child, was born in April 2024. Kara Nesvig, Parents, 1 Nov. 2024 Consider the Dodgers’ lithe, versatile slugger Mookie Betts, who repairs to quiet inner-stadium rooms to focus. Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lithe 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English līthe gentle; akin to Old High German lindi gentle, Latin lentus slow

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lithe was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lithe

Cite this Entry

“Lithe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lithe. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

lithe

adjective
1
: easily bent : flexible
long lithe stems
2
: light and graceful in movement
lithe dancers
lithely adverb
litheness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lithe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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