1
as in nonchalant
having or showing freedom from worries or troubles
his debonair dismissal of my inquiry concerning his financial situation led me to believe that nothing was wrong
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sophisticated
having or showing very polished and worldly manners
the debonair gentleman charmed all of the ladies in the room
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debonair
Based in New York City and Chicago, Richter seamlessly honors the building’s long-standing history with debonair interiors that feel like a nod to old (and new) New York and are also inspired by the elegance of Paris.
—
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2025
Chinese movie star Hu Ge gives a debonair lead performance as Ah Bao, a mysterious power player who owes his rapid rise to the tutelage of an elderly ex-con, Uncle Ye (You Benchang).
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
Riquelme Vega, a major Chilean drug importer; and Raffaele Imperiale, a debonair Italian linked to the Camorra.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
That tone deafness aside, Usher knows how to command a stage and leave a debonair impression.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for debonair
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2025
Chinese movie star Hu Ge gives a debonair lead performance as Ah Bao, a mysterious power player who owes his rapid rise to the tutelage of an elderly ex-con, Uncle Ye (You Benchang).
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
Riquelme Vega, a major Chilean drug importer; and Raffaele Imperiale, a debonair Italian linked to the Camorra.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
That tone deafness aside, Usher knows how to command a stage and leave a debonair impression.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for debonair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debonair
Adjective
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Scott inflicts Ohm’s nonchalant meanness with a piercingly perverse matter-of-factness that places the character as far away as possible from the realm of likeability.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
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Margot Robbie’s understanding of the assignment is evident, her fringe frame coupled with a low and loosely bound ponytail (another hallmark of the nonchalant set).—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Her middle name isn’t a very sophisticated one.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
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Buying artificial or natural flowers that are in season is a great way to create a sophisticated environment for your event.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Think saturated makeup, carefree styling, and an unapologetic embrace of all things vintage.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
1 Apr. 2026
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Since its founding, Vilebrequin has built its identity around a vision of beach life that blends color, craft, and a certain carefree French Riviera attitude.—
John Wogan,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Nespresso’s new era under Lipa will mark a shift from the suave Clooney ads that always featured the actor in a gray suit, usually as the butt of the joke.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
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This casting also gives more oomph to the musical’s love quadrilateral, which pairs Queenie and Burrs with a B-couple, the rising star Kate (the ever-magnetic Adrienne Warren) and her escort, Black (an exceptionally suave Jelani Alladin), who are here both darker-skinned.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Midi lengths refuse to commit to long or short camps, settling in the middle for a moment that's polished and truly insouciant.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
1 Apr. 2026
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There is nothing insouciant about me.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Your next house could be this graceful French mansion, previously owned by both the late German designer and by European royalty.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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Offer graceful leadership and listen to quieter voices, because shared success grows when everyone feels included and heard.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The fact that anyone at the top is shocked by snaking security lines at airports is of a piece with the administration’s rather cavalier approach to contingency planning.—
Juliette Kayyem,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
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Each crossbreed comes from a poodle bred with a cavalier King Charles spaniel, cocker spaniel, or Labrador retriever.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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One does detect in Iran hawks a kind of 'will to destruction' and hatred of boring, civilized diplomacy.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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The best actor nominee isn’t the only one noticing a significant change on the red carpet this season — though some events, like the annual VF Oscar Party, have always been more civilized than others.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debonair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debonair. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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