1
: easily bent or flexed
lithe steel
a lithe vine
2
: characterized by easy flexibility and grace
a lithe dancer
treading with a lithe silent step
also : athletically slim
the most lithe and graspable of waists R. P. Warren
lithely adverb
litheness noun

Examples of lithe in a Sentence

the lithe body of a dancer the lithe blade of a fencing foil
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Sleek long lines, lithe limbs, hood buckled all the way to the top: every bit an extraterrestrial monarch. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2025 Seen from the front and side, the 2025 Vanquish is lithe, muscular, and has a styling that’s unmistakably Aston Martin. Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2024 The Japanese conductor amazed audiences with the lithe physicality of his performances during three decades at the helm of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024 All of them are lithe, with a classic shark profile, and hunt small fish like mullet. Erik Vance, New York Times, 26 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for lithe 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English līthe gentle; akin to Old High German lindi gentle, Latin lentus slow

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lithe was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lithe

Cite this Entry

“Lithe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lithe. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

lithe

adjective
1
: easily bent : flexible
long lithe stems
2
: light and graceful in movement
lithe dancers
lithely adverb
litheness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lithe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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