debonair

adjective

ˌde-bə-ˈner How to pronounce debonair (audio)
Definition of debonairnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 debonair Hong Kong icon Tony Leung has channeled brooding urban energy for the masterpieces of Wong Kar-Wai, balancing the debonair ennui of Marcello Mastroianni with the quiet watchfulness of Montgomery Clift. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 May 2026 Field played Miranda Hillard, Daniel’s ex-wife, while Pierce Brosnan portrayed her debonair new love interest, Stu. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 7 May 2026 Weirdly debonair, for a teenager. — Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026 Sailing aboard The Hispaniola, Jim and Bess are caught between the charming, terrifying pirate Long John Silver, and the debonair, duplicitous British agent Aaron Graham. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for debonair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debonair
  1. nonchalant
  2. sophisticated
  3. carefree
  4. suave
  5. insouciant
  6. graceful
  7. cavalier
  8. civilized
Adjective
  • Zizou Bergs Zizou Bergs served nonchalant-cool boy vibes upon his arrival to New York City for the US Open, rocking an oversized charcoal graphic tee from Golden Goose paired with voluminous black trousers and his personalized Golden Goose shoes.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The plan is to keep being nonchalant about the whole thing, and hopefully their fan base will continue to grow.
    — Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of nonchalant
Adjective
  • The Future According to Brad is chunks in shades of butterscotch, caramel, and cinnamon—sophisticated candy colors.
    — Vanessa Friedman, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Chemical suppliers are developing increasingly sophisticated products, while machinery, software and process control continue to improve.
    — Alice Tonello, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of sophisticated
Adjective
  • Yet, despite the seemingly carefree construction, the shoe’s high sidewall design is intended to hug the wearer’s foot for a secure fit.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Tadens, part of a Haitian migrant family that moved to the United States in 2024, is remembered as a carefree, sweet child who had a stellar school attendance.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of carefree
Adjective
  • Someone with aura is confident, cool, collected, and suave; someone without aura is insecure, cringey, or generally uncool.
    — Stephanie Kasulka, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In the first series, Bateman plays Vince, a charismatic and chaotic screw-up who reunites with his brother, suave bar owner Jake (Jude Law).
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of suave
Adjective
  • 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
  • There is nothing insouciant about me.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of insouciant
Adjective
  • As with many of the academic cases, there are often no permanent consequences for Pretendians; they are either allowed to continue teaching or granted a graceful retirement.
    — Tommy Orange, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The driveway, lined with perennial beds, has a graceful curve on its way to a large circle that allows guests to park near the walkway to the front porch.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of graceful
Adjective
  • What makes this emptiness more bothersome is the cavalier way Wingard wields the imagery of rogue, militarized killers wreaking havoc on the American landscape.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps most viscerally, given the ever-present specter of nuclear annihilation during the Cold War, Capps was appalled by Falwell’s apocalyptic rhetoric and cavalier posture toward global destruction.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of cavalier
Adjective
  • At least in civilized society, which is what Screencaps Nation is all about.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Leave it in its normal mode and the SQ5 behaves like a civilized luxury crossover.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of civilized

Browse Nearby Words

debits
debonair
debrief
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Cite this Entry

“Debonair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debonair. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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