US /swɑːv/ UK /swɑːv/
adj Freq #25116

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    smoothly charming, confident, and courteous, sometimes in a way that seems insincere

    The suave representative answered politely while revealing almost nothing.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · smoothly charming,... smoothdebonairurbanesophisticated
Opposites
Word family
Forms suavelysuavest
Derived forms suavelysuaveness
Related forms charmpolishedcourteous

Etymology

Borrowed through Middle French from Latin suavis ("sweet, pleasant"). Latin suavis is distantly related to English sweet. The English adjective shifted from general pleasantness toward polished social charm, often with a suggestion that the smooth manner is calculated.

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