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an elegant hotel
a luxurious hotel
a stylish hotel
an exquisite hotel
an exclusive hotel
elegant clothes
fancy clothes
glamorous clothes
classy clothes
graceful clothes
exquisite clothes
elegant prose
eloquent prose
beautiful prose
lovely prose

Synonym Chooser

How is the word elegant different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of elegant are choice, dainty, delicate, exquisite, and rare. While all these words mean "having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste," elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

When is it sensible to use choice instead of elegant?

In some situations, the words choice and elegant are roughly equivalent. However, choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

Where would dainty be a reasonable alternative to elegant?

Although the words dainty and elegant have much in common, dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

When is delicate a more appropriate choice than elegant?

The meanings of delicate and elegant largely overlap; however, delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

When would exquisite be a good substitute for elegant?

While in some cases nearly identical to elegant, exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

When might rare be a better fit than elegant?

While the synonyms rare and elegant are close in meaning, rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elegant Grande’s elegant look this evening stayed true to the spirit of her red-carpet style this awards season. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2025 Looking at reality through various cultural lenses, the deceptively elegant film is a nuanced deliberation on Simon’s fantasy, planted in his imagination by his racist grandfather, that his Lebanese father was a terrorist. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025 This book display from Wayfair is elegant, sophisticated and easy to install. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 27 Feb. 2025 This simple yet elegant rectangular bench can fit comfortably at the foot of beds or flush against walls for extra space to keep blankets, linens, and clothes. Ali Faccenda, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elegant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elegant
Adjective
  • Pearce’s warm, earthy vocal tones highlight the song’s graceful melody.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Feb. 2025
  • In many ways, writer-director Jing Yi’s graceful and ephemeral drama, The Botanist (Zhi Wu Xue Jia), plays out like your typical coming-of-age movie.
    Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Timeless Brilliance environment showcased exquisite diamond jewels from the collection of heritage gem and jewelry dealer Ernst Färber, which was founded in Munich in 1692.
    Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The Red Room establishes an impressive, grand introduction to the store, and is gracefully merchandised with footwear on exquisite circular onyx tables.
    David Moin, WWD, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The handsome toddler wore a black baseball cap, blue and burgundy vintage Philadelphia Phillies jersey, white linen pants, and vans.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Nicole and her husband, renowned plastic surgeon Ted Richardson (Maurice Johnson), are surrogate parents to Ted’s nephew, Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman), a handsome and flirty photographer whose parents died in a plane crash.
    Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • So the challenge for Pereira, both now and in the future, is to get Wolves firing on the rare occasions when Cunha does not.
    Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • But on very rare occasions, this process gets put under a microscope.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • By introducing finer gradations and supporting 16-QAM with a 2/3 coding rate, Wi-Fi 8 ensures smoother transitions between speed tiers, ultimately enhancing overall transmission rates by 5%-30% and guaranteeing stable connectivity as users move.
    Mark Vena, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • New York first joined the guide in 2005, kicking off a new focus on fine dining in America.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • To help prevent problems in the garden, select disease- and pest-resistant seeds or plants by reading labels carefully.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge.
    Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 1 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Elegant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elegant. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on elegant

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