SUAVE Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'suave' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of suave are bland , diplomatic , politic , smooth , and urbane . While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction. // a suave public relations coordinator

Q: When is it sensible to use 'bland' instead of 'suave'?

The words bland and suave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities. // a bland master of ceremonies

Q: When would 'diplomatic' be a good substitute for 'suave'?

Although the words diplomatic and suave have much in common, diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully. // a diplomatic negotiator

Q: When might 'politic' be a better fit than 'suave'?

The meanings of politic and suave largely overlap; however, politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people. // a cunningly politic manager

Q: In what contexts can 'smooth' take the place of 'suave'?

In some situations, the words smooth and suave are roughly equivalent. However, smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity. // a smooth salesman

Q: When can 'urbane' be used instead of 'suave'?

The synonyms urbane and suave are sometimes interchangeable, but urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience. // an urbane traveler

suave

adjective

ˈswäv

Definition of suave next

as in sophisticated

having or showing very polished and worldly manners the suave gentleman was a great favorite of the elegant ladies who attended parties at the embassy

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word suave different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of suave are bland, diplomatic, politic, smooth, and urbane. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

When is it sensible to use bland instead of suave?

The words bland and suave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

When would diplomatic be a good substitute for suave?

Although the words diplomatic and suave have much in common, diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

When might politic be a better fit than suave?

The meanings of politic and suave largely overlap; however, politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

In what contexts can smooth take the place of suave?

In some situations, the words smooth and suave are roughly equivalent. However, smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

When can urbane be used instead of suave?

The synonyms urbane and suave are sometimes interchangeable, but urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of suave Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlok is more a Romanian folk vampire — decayed but still quite libidinous — than suave, past aristocrats limned by Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee. —

Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024 Other stories explore similar themes in equally bizarre situations: In 1880s London, a very suave Joseph Merrick, aka The Elephant Man, flirts shamelessly with the smitten wife of his very baffled doctor (Goldsberry and Kind, respectively). —

Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Dec. 2024 Nashville Tennessean 0:00 0:29 For 35 years, Mavericks front man Raul Malo has occupied a space in popular music defined by a suave, smart and serially curious relationship with the grooves that define rock 'n' roll. —

Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 4 Dec. 2024 The suave scamp buoys a ship taking on water, and the second and third episodes (of the eight-episode first season) pick up speed as their imagination balloons (thanks, in part, to director David Lowery). —

Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for suave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suave

Adjective

The industry is facing a technological reckoning, as AI models grow more sophisticated and political landscapes shift in ways that could either protect creators or dismantle their livelihoods further.

Virginie Berger, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
The modern version of color analysis is, like so many modern versions of so many things, both more sophisticated—color analysis now acknowledges the existence of a wide range of skin tones—and more complicated.

Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2024