How to Use shapely in a Sentence

shapely

adjective
  • She has a shapely figure.
  • The sheen on the strings was thick and plush, the woodwinds shapely and expressive.
    Zachary Lewis, cleveland.com, 7 Aug. 2017
  • Along with the thrust from the Red Sport's engine, much of the Q60's appeal lies in its shapely bodywork.
    Connor Hoffman, Car and Driver, 19 Feb. 2021
  • If partner’s hand is shapely, his next bid will say so.
    Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 19 May 2017
  • In its travel tow position, the iCamp looks a bit like a smushed sports car, with a flat top and a shapely coup-like rear.
    Megan Barber, Curbed, 19 Oct. 2018
  • Many were tall, a handful small; their bodies were lanky or shapely or strong.
    Alexis Cheung, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2016
  • There was a spray of teased hair and fishnet clothing stretched over shapely but thin figures.
    Shannon Lell, Longreads, 6 Sep. 2017
  • The shapely bigamist One time, without meaning to, Earl Stamatkin made news.
    Will Higgins, Indianapolis Star, 25 Jan. 2018
  • Artist Kelsey Lu, was one of many who radiated, with bare skin and shapely brows above a few lilies.
    Akili King, Vogue, 1 July 2019
  • Loose enough to look (and feel) cool, shapely enough to flatter a women’s figure, the hybrid jean combines the best of both worlds.
    Maria Ward, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2018
  • Auvray is known for his shapely 3-D pieces, which are often made out of foam and latex.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2021
  • Viewed from the top of the stairs, the shapely cut of the light against neutral walls makes the pattern overload in the rest of the space seem even more dramatic and purposeful.
    Nancy Hass, ELLE Decor, 7 July 2017
  • On dark skin muscles appear to be more defined and shapely, and just the opposite on lighter skin.
    Kimberly Garrison, Philly.com, 3 July 2017
  • The E-Class Cabriolet does a far better job than most soft tops of preserving a shapely coupe roofline.
    Steve Irsay, Orange County Register, 13 June 2017
  • In pictures and portraits, the bras cover bodies of all varieties, old and young, shapely and slim.
    Hallie Miller, baltimoresun.com, 3 July 2018
  • Only now, the results were shapelier, shinier, and even sultrier.
    A.d. Amorosi, Philly.com, 9 Aug. 2017
  • This trimmer, however, keeps the process clean while also keeping your beard tidy and shapely.
    Adam Hurly, GQ, 1 Sep. 2017
  • The more shapely Bella Crossbody, which has a curved top and long detachable strap, can double as a purse, with or without the freezer packs.
    Judi Dash, The Denver Post, 5 Jan. 2017
  • The tempo was slow, but flowing; the phrasing sensitive, yet shapely.
    Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2017
  • Guido Palau's parade of shapely bobs at Miu Miu offering a sleek and sculptural counter.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2018
  • Buxom Plumpline Lip Liner: Play with all 20 shades of this plumping lip liner to get full, shapely lips with a perfect pop of color.
    Vanity Fair, Vanities, 22 Mar. 2017
  • While biographies routinely run to 700-plus fact-laden pages, a novel is more likely to be shapely in length.
    Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 11 June 2019
  • The grille looks slimmer and more shapely, with VW's new logo design prominently displayed in the center.
    Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 17 Apr. 2020
  • The hero, with flowing locks, shapely legs, and high heels, appears nonbinary.
    Cate McQuaid, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2019
  • Bianca restretched her sleeveless sheath dress around her shapely backside and sat down at the restaurant table.
    Lucinda Rosenfeld, Harper's magazine, 10 Feb. 2019
  • Even women with the shapeliest legs and ankles do themselves no favor with ankle strap shoes, which are instant leg shorteners.
    Ellen Warren, chicagotribune.com, 3 May 2018
  • These exercises are a few of my favorites for creating shapely and lean legs.
    Seventeen Magazine, Seventeen, 27 Apr. 2009
  • Under its shapely, high-strength steel body is a carbon fiber driveshaft and composite rear cross member.
    Mark Maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, 15 June 2018
  • The SUV’s spare yet shapely body provides the canvas for standout details such as the furrowed headlights, large grille, stiletto-like pointed taillights, and large wheels.
    Alexander Stoklosa, Car and Driver, 1 June 2017
  • To keep your shapely numbers work apropos, choose elevated fabrics and knee or calf-length styles.
    Sara Holzman, Marie Claire, 9 Oct. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shapely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: