as in silky
smooth or delicate in appearance or feel
the downy surface of a ripe peach
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downy
This year, an enormous king penguin chick named Pesto — a 50-pound tower of downy brown fluff at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, in Australia — became a textbook case.
—
Emily Anthes, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
Mature king penguins have four total layers of feathers—three downy inner layers, topped by an oily waterproof outer layer.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024
That said, Beatty’s portrayal of the harried, discursive, libidinous George is irresistible even without context, as is the performance given by a young Goldie Hawn, who illuminates every frame—and perfectly counteracts Beatty—with blonde California light, and a heart-melting, downy innocence.
—Vogue, 10 Sep. 2024
The New York Ironweed (V. noveboracensis) grows almost as tall as V. altissima but the Big Apple version sports a heavier flower mass and some downy hairs on the bottom of the leaves.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 16 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for downy
Emily Anthes, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
Mature king penguins have four total layers of feathers—three downy inner layers, topped by an oily waterproof outer layer.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024
That said, Beatty’s portrayal of the harried, discursive, libidinous George is irresistible even without context, as is the performance given by a young Goldie Hawn, who illuminates every frame—and perfectly counteracts Beatty—with blonde California light, and a heart-melting, downy innocence.
—Vogue, 10 Sep. 2024
The New York Ironweed (V. noveboracensis) grows almost as tall as V. altissima but the Big Apple version sports a heavier flower mass and some downy hairs on the bottom of the leaves.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 16 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for downy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downy
Adjective
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The velvet texture keeps even silky fabrics in place.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Apr. 2025
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This silky moisturizer is clinically proven to shorten your skin’s adjustment period to retinoids while reducing dryness with a barrier-restoring blend of lipids—specifically ceramides, natural cholesterol, and fatty acids.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Pop a satin version on top of your usual night-out curls to make the 'do feel glamorous.—
Jasmine Washington,
Seventeen,
18 Jan. 2023
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From satin pillowcases to a hydrating moisturizer, all of these products are on sale for less than $25.—
Isabel Garcia,
Peoplemag,
13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Rande, 62, matched his wife's and daughter's soft elegance by wearing a classic black tux with a white collared shirt and back tie.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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For starters, the bath products are thicker, softer, non-slip, and have drainage holes.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downy. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
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