ˈswäv, -ȧ- adjective
( often -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle French, from Latin suavis pleasant, sweet — more at sweet
1. : blandly pleasant especially to the senses
the suave light of afternoon — Elinor Wylie
wind laden with the suave odor … of madonna lilies — Norman Douglas
2.
a. : smoothly affable and polite though often without deep interest or sincerity : superficially gracious in manner
a suave greeting
affable, suave , moderate men, all of them perfectly and smugly convinced of their respectability — Ezra Pound
b. : smooth in performance or finish : highly finished
a suave mastery of technique
a suave surface
one could wish that the book … was somewhat suaver in style — Newsweek
Synonyms:
urbane , diplomatic , bland , smooth , politic : suave suggests polished, smooth, well-mannered facilitation of easy and frictionless dealings with others, with affability, politeness, and persuasiveness all markedly checked from offensive excess or obvious fulness
his voice was as smooth and suave as his countenance … murmuring his regret for having missed us at his first visit — A. Conan Doyle
they could be as suave in advancing their bromides as we could be gauche in establishing our originalities — John Mason Brown
urbane suggests blended well-mannered and composed cultivation, poise, and wide social experience and an inbred or studied courtesy facilitating pleasant social relationships
so urbane, sophisticated, and cultured that a stranger, meeting the Congressman for the first time, would be likely to think he had grown up in the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria rather than in the backwoods of Missouri — Volta Torrey
an active, urbane, gregarious gentleman … who likes to dine out, is fond of travel, is interested in people, and keeps his enthusiasm for life — Rosemary Benét
diplomatic stresses the tactfulness necessary to ensure lastingly smooth relationships
busy, active, diplomatic managing of the party — E.E.Hale
bland stresses lack of irritation and implies a placid outlook, mild disposition, general affability, and complaisant benignness
a distinguished-looking old cleric with a sweet smile and a white tie, he's just honorable and bland — George Santayana
polished in his manners, exquisitely neat in his appearance and his bland conversation never rose above a calm level — Ruth Garland
smooth suggests an easy suavity making for pleasant, frictionless relationships
they themselves were smooth in manner, and they saw to it that in their presence life had no rough edges — Mary Webb
politic suggests expedient, shrewd, and tactful handling of others by diplomacy, manipulation, or ingratiation
the mayors and corporations as a rule guided their cities through difficult times with politic shrewdness — Edwin Benson
the generosity shown by the politic conqueror to his prisoners — W.H.Prescott