sleek
1 Americanadjective
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smooth or glossy, as hair, an animal, etc.
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well-fed or well-groomed.
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trim and graceful; finely contoured; streamlined.
a sleek sports car.
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smooth in manners, speech, etc.; suave.
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cleverly or deceitfully skillful; slick.
a sleek confidence man.
verb (used with object)
adjective
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smooth and shiny; polished
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polished in speech or behaviour; unctuous
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(of an animal or bird) having a shiny healthy coat or feathers
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(of a person) having a prosperous appearance
verb
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to make smooth and glossy, as by grooming, etc
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(usually foll by over) to cover (up), as by making more agreeable; gloss (over)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has sleekedperfect 3rd person singular
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have sleekedperfect
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has been sleekingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am sleekingprogressive 1st person singular
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are sleekingprogressive
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sleekingparticiple
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have been sleekingperfect progressive
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sleekssingular 3rd person
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is sleekingprogressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had sleekedperfect
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was sleekingprogressive singular
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had been sleekingperfect progressive
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were sleekingprogressive plural
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sleekedparticiple
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sleekedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of sleek1
First recorded in 1580–90; variant of slick
Origin of sleek2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English sleken, variant of slick
Explanation
If your hair is sleek, it is smooth and glossy. If your car is sleek, it's shiny and looks like it goes fast. Sleek always means smooth, glossy, and streamlined. Sleek is a variant of the word, slick. When you slick back your hair with grease, it becomes sleek. Cats are often called sleek with their silky coats and lithe movements. A dress could be described as sleek, if it fits tightly to your body and makes you look polished and perfectly fit. When something is sleek, it's aerodynamic.
Vocabulary lists containing sleek
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
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"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 3
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Rebound
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What also keeps traders hooked is Hyperliquid’s sleek, user-friendly interface, its wide selection of tradable assets and a strong sense of community that binds its user base together.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
The builders are also adding sleek glass panels and internal office space to craft the “sexiest, coolest construction posting in America,” according to Paul Palandjian, the CEO of O’Leary Digital.
From Slate • Jun. 1, 2026
The unveiling of a Ferrari EV marks a major shift for a brand built on sleek petrol-powered supercars, known for their roaring engines.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
The main living space features an open plan that flows nicely from the living room to the dining area and sleek kitchen, which features a 14-foot island, quartz countertops, and luxe appliances.
From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026
Their little waists rose up tight and slender in the middle, and their cheeks were red and their eyes bright, under the wings of shining, sleek hair.
From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
