definitions

sultry

[ suhl-tree ]
/ ˈsʌl tri /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sultry ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, sul·tri·er, sul·tri·est.

oppressively hot and close or moist; sweltering: a sultry day.
oppressively hot; emitting great heat: the sultry sun.
characterized by or associated with sweltering heat: sultry work in the fields.
characterized by or arousing passion: sultry eyes.

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RELATED WORDS

humidity, dampness, oppressiveness

Nearby words

sultan, sultana, sultanate, sultaness, sultanic, sultry, sulu, sulu archipelago, sulu sea, sulzberger, sulzberger, arthur hays

Origin of sultry

1585–95; sult(e)r (variant of swelter) + -y1

Related forms

sul·tri·ly, adverbsul·tri·ness, nounun·sul·try, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sultriness

British Dictionary definitions for sultriness

sultry

/ (ˈsʌltrɪ) /

adjective -trier or -triest

(of weather or climate) oppressively hot and humid
characterized by or emitting oppressive heat
displaying or suggesting passion; sensualsultry eyes

Derived Forms

sultrily, adverbsultriness, noun

Word Origin for sultry

C16: from obsolete sulter to swelter + -y 1
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