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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of smooth are bland, diplomatic, politic, suave, and urbane. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

When might bland be a better fit than smooth?

While in some cases nearly identical to smooth, bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

In what contexts can diplomatic take the place of smooth?

The synonyms diplomatic and smooth are sometimes interchangeable, but diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

Where would politic be a reasonable alternative to smooth?

In some situations, the words politic and smooth are roughly equivalent. However, politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

When can suave be used instead of smooth?

The words suave and smooth are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

When would urbane be a good substitute for smooth?

The words urbane and smooth can be used in similar contexts, but urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

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 smooth
Adjective
One reviewer praised the smooth wheels and durable hardside shell that didn’t get marked up during their travels. Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025 For detangling, expect the spray to work through knots so all that’s left are smooth strands that are much easier to style. Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 8 July 2025
Verb
Through the years, Welch’s legend has been shaped and the burrs smoothed, the inconsistencies and unseemly bits taken into a particular form, in the same manner that a woodturner takes a roughing gouge to a block of wood to round it before hollowing it out. Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, 26 June 2025 The surface of the figure is overall rough, the museum said, but parts of her body have been smoothed, such as around the breasts and hips, suggesting the figure may have been stored in some kind of organic material like leather that rubbed on the stone. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for smooth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smooth
Adjective
  • In a newer and more sophisticated twist, scammers are removing links altogether.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
  • The capital is more sophisticated, the stakeholders are more educated and the businesses are becoming more resilient.
    Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • The easiest gauge is body composition every two weeks.
    Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
  • This sweetener is easy to make with only sugar and water, but adding lemon peel to the mixture during cooking adds citrus flavor.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • There’s something wonderfully timeless about pushing off from shore in a canoe as the paddles dip quietly through calm water as dragonflies skim by.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 29 June 2025
  • This dual nature creates two very different beach experiences: the lagoon side, with its calm, shallow waters, is perfect for children and stand-up paddleboarding, while the oceanfront waves are great for surfing and bodyboarding.
    Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • This was no low-level mule who ferried drugs on his person, but a state attorney general who had facilitated cartel smuggling for years.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
  • Estate and trust planning, particularly using non-grantor (complex) trusts, can facilitate some aspects of income tax planning.
    Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • The index dipped only slightly, but that nonetheless shaved off some gains from what could have been a higher high.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 30 June 2025
  • This was in the days when only lunatics or scary white punks had shaved heads.
    Hilton Als, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Other procedures like polishing restorations, ceramic crowns, using elastics, orthodontic appliances, and so on can generate particles.
    Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Most people think stand-up comics spend decades polishing their act to get good at telling jokes.
    Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • The chrysoprase cabochons on a necklace from the house’s 2025 high-jewelry collection demonstrate their enduringly graceful symmetry.
    Jill Newman, Robb Report, 29 June 2025
  • The unlikely but true tale of a multimillion dollar, inside job heist, the 2016 film is a crazy cinematic ride with a who’s who of A-list funny folk and moments hilariously dumb and graceful, romantic and ruinous.
    Lesley O'Toole, Variety, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • The simplest ideas in mathematics can also be the most perplexing.
    Leila Sloman, Wired News, 29 June 2025
  • Start your day like a pro with simple morning cleaning habits that keep your home feeling fresh, organized, and under control.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Smooth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://x0upouf933.proxynodejs.usequeue.com/thesaurus/smooth. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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