noun
suavity
SWAH-vuh-tee/ˈswɑvəti/
Smooth, gracious charm in manner.
The host greets each guest with suavity and genuine warmth.
Etymology
The pieces express the quality of being pleasant or agreeable. Earlier kindness and gentleness developed into polished outward charm, a shift probably reflecting developments in French usage.
In context
thank you said Thorndike with the most extreme suavity of manner you have done us a great service by coming here today and a great service to humanity
More examples
- She handles awkward questions with effortless suavity.
- His suavity puts nervous dinner guests at ease.
- Despite the salesman's suavity, we decline his offer.
Forms
suave adjective — Smoothly charming and gracious in manner.
suavely adverb — In a smoothly charming, gracious manner.
Similar words
- charm
- Can be spontaneous or playful rather than socially polished.
- polish
- Emphasizes refinement and skill rather than personal warmth.
- urbanity
- Suggests sophisticated courtesy, especially in formal social settings.