silky
Americanadjective
-
silkier,
comparative
-
silkiest
superlative
-
of or like silk; smooth, lustrous, soft, or delicate.
silky skin.
-
Botany. covered with fine, soft, closely set hairs, as a leaf.
adjective
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resembling silk in texture; glossy
-
made of silk
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(of a voice, manner, etc) suave; smooth
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botany covered with long fine soft hairs
silky leaves
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of silky
Explanation
Silky is an adjective describing something smooth, soft, and glossy — like your friend's silky hair or the silky fabric of a formal gown. Silky is a textural description, and it can be used to describe food, fabric, or hair. The word can also be used to describe vocal textures, as well. Someone might say about Frank Sinatra, "His silky smooth voice and his innovative lyrics will be around for quite some time."
Vocabulary lists containing silky
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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American Street
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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.
See Examples For:
The cherry tomatoes burst, their skins turning silky and their juices almost pasty around the edges.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Subtle and savory, with pretty aromas of rose and fennel, a silky mineral mouth feel and flavors including ripe red cherry, wild strawberry and a hint of fresh herbs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
He was only 5ft 6in at 16 - a "silky number 10" as he put it.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Last Friday at Espacio 1839 in Boyle Heights, visitors were greeted by the thumping bass of cumbia sonideras, earthy scent of leather trinkets and clothing racks featuring silky screen-printed soccer jerseys.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
Her silky headscarf was out of place, but it looked cute that way.
From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram
The fragrance of rose makes hair seem silkier, for instance.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 9, 2026
"Remy hair has aligned cuticles, hair flows uniformly in one direction, which leads to less tangling and a silkier texture. This is high-value hair," says George Cherion, the company's chief executive.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2025
For the consumer, koji means a rounder, silkier, sweeter brew.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 11, 2022
If you're after something silkier, go for butter.
From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2022
My hair is silkier and my voice is husky.
From St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, October 1878, No. 12 by Mary Mapes Dodge
Then top each bowl with a raw egg yolk for the silkiest carbonara sauce imaginable.
From New York Times ● Apr. 29, 2023
When stirred into risottos and pastas just before serving, mascarpone melts into the silkiest, luxurious one-ingredient sauce.
From Salon ● Apr. 10, 2022
Come for the critique of late capitalism, stay for Pike at her silkiest and most savagely compelling.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 17, 2021
But at times, his handsome face thoughtful, he sounds as smooth as the silkiest politician.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2015
Victoria, one of the silkiest, featheriest hatted, people thought I was cool and quirky?
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
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.
