balmy

[bah-mee]

adjective

balmier, balmiest 

1. mild and refreshing; soft; soothing.

   balmy weather.

   Synonyms: clement, temperate, gentle, fair

2. having the qualities of balm; aromatic; fragrant.

   balmy leaves.

3. producing balm.

   balmy plants; a balmy shrub.

4. Informal.,  crazy; foolish; eccentric.

balmy

/ ˈbɑːmɪ /

adjective

1. (of weather) mild and pleasant

2. having the qualities of balm; fragrant or soothing

3. a variant spelling of barmy

Other Word Forms

• balmily adverb
• balminess noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of balmy¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; balm + -y ¹

Example Sentences

The fulcrum of fortune has a way of seesawing from one condition to its opposite with no warning, like a sudden squall on an otherwise balmy day.

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That wasn’t indicative of what was to come, however, as Jacksonville dominated the line of scrimmage and the Chargers were as mild as the balmy day.

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WILTON, Calif. — On a balmy day last week south of Sacramento, a group of women took turns grinding and preparing acorn flour, and then used fire-heated stones to cook it with water in woven baskets.

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As Sunday afternoon ticked into a balmy evening, England had little to cling on to.

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Such balmy temperatures might sound attractive, but they can pose hidden threats.

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Related Words

• clement 
• fair 
• fine 
• mild 
• pleasant 
• temperate 
• warm