GRACEFUL Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

graceful

adjective

ˈgrās-fəl

Definition of graceful

as in agile

moving easily the graceful ballerina effortlessly leapt across the stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in elegant

having or showing elegance sat down in the old plantation home's very graceful parlor

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 graceful The rhyme between her graceful form and the sculpture’s anatomy underscores the clip’s unmistakably erotic frisson. — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Now, Adams will hope that further testing can be graceful in terms of recovery despite non-contact knee injuries usually meaning the worst for athletes. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Yet 20 minutes later, it was long forgotten during a graceful balance beam routine that brought her to within striking distance of the lead. — CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 In the morning, travelers will awake among the graceful canals and bridges of Venice, with a private water taxi to ferry them into the heart of the Venetian lagoon to explore the city’s many islands. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for graceful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for graceful

Adjective

For one track on her massive yet agile new album, The Will of Tongues, Davachi works with Phaedrus, an early music flute consort (three tenors, one bass, all modeled on 16th-century instruments), a group whose approach resonates with her own.

— Reed Jackson, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026
The smallest robot was the most agile of the three, and the largest one was the best at maintaining its trajectory when faced with disturbances meant to throw it off course.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of agile

Adjective

Shop more outlet deals below, including an elegant candleholder, a luxe ottoman, and slim patio sofa.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2026
The Queen size bed feels huge, there's plenty of light, sumptuous extra seating and an overall elegant Georgian style feel.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of elegant

Adjective

As e-commerce grows, retailers have had to keep up with surging demand and invest in nimble supply chains to optimize their efficiency.

— Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Delays and disruptions forced the company to stay nimble and deliver under pressure.

— Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of nimble

Adjective

The tower stands, a handsome ruin and a relic of a more optimistic age.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
On the eve of her 30th birthday, a rare night out leads her to Boyd Davenport (Noah Fearnley), handsome, heir to a billionaire family fortune and Nashville’s most eligible bachelor.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of handsome

Adjective

Director John Woo brings a balletic style that exudes confidence and flair, particularly in the stunning one-take hospital shootout sequence.

— Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Italy was leading 1–0 when, in the 78th minute, Baggio exchanged passes with teammate Giuseppe Giannini, drifted through Czechoslovakia’s defense with balletic control, and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.

— Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 June 2026

Definition of balletic

Adjective

Spray cooling covers a surface with fine droplets that absorb heat and evaporate.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Now, some of the restaurants carrying that distinction are also questioning the conventions that have come to define fine dining.

— Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of fine

Adjective

Alvarezsaurs were predominantly small, with stubby but powerful forelimbs, long and gracile hindlimbs and lightly built skulls.

— Reuters, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Hawkins misplaced horns and spikes, and some of his robust four-legged dinosaurs were actually gracile bipeds.

— Yannic Rack, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023

Definition of gracile

Adjective

The forest between Bordeaux and a line of majestic sand dunes on the Atlantic is the largest in France, far bigger than any in the Alps or Pyrenees.

— Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
As one of the world’s leading manta ray research organizations, The Manta Trust is dedicated to educating and conserving habitats for these majestic creatures.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of majestic

Browse Nearby Words

graced

graceful

gracefulness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of graceful

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes