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Synonyms

silky

American  
[sil-kee] / ˈsɪl ki /

adjective

silkier, silkiest

  1. of or like silk; smooth, lustrous, soft, or delicate.

    silky skin.

  2. Botany. covered with fine, soft, closely set hairs, as a leaf.

silky British  
/ ˈsɪlkɪ /

adjective

  1. resembling silk in texture; glossy

  2. made of silk

  3. (of a voice, manner, etc) suave; smooth

  4. botany covered with long fine soft hairs

    silky leaves
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • silkily adverb
  • silkiness noun

Etymology

Origin of silky

First recorded in 1605–15; silk + -y 1

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.

You’re saying that’s a modern song with those silky yacht rock chords.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Silverstein blends in with the cool kids of the fashion world, often photographed at swanky Manhattan dinners wearing a silky dress, leather and high heels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Felix Nmecha's silky exchange with Fabio Silva allowed the Guinean to sweep in an 87th-minute winner for his ninth Bundesliga goal of the season.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

His cooks minced the meat with papaya, saffron and spices and made it so fine and silky that it needed no chewing.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

I stared after him, long after he disappeared in the crowd, and ran my fingers against the silky smoothness of his jacket.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

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.