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
Then there are the darker, spicier vanillas, with hints of tobacco or amber, offering a more sultry, sophisticated vibe.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
Madison Beer Beer modeled an ivory off-the-shoulder gown featuring a sultry thigh-high slit.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 15 Dec. 2024
Set at Christmastime, Therese and Carol’s meet-cute begins when the sophisticated shopper forgets her winter gloves at the toy counter where Therese works and Therese takes it upon herself to return them to their sultry owner.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Here, alongside the plush retro decor, jazz-tinged and sultry blues, singers, broadway performers and burlesque artists perform impromptu, with pop-up live performances every night between 9-11 (for a later date).
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sultry 
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.
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
Madison Beer Beer modeled an ivory off-the-shoulder gown featuring a sultry thigh-high slit.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 15 Dec. 2024
Set at Christmastime, Therese and Carol’s meet-cute begins when the sophisticated shopper forgets her winter gloves at the toy counter where Therese works and Therese takes it upon herself to return them to their sultry owner.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Here, alongside the plush retro decor, jazz-tinged and sultry blues, singers, broadway performers and burlesque artists perform impromptu, with pop-up live performances every night between 9-11 (for a later date).
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sultry
Articles Related to sultry
Dictionary Entries Near sultry
Cite this Entry
“Sultry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sultry. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share