sleek

sleek — adjective

1. describes hair or fur that looks soft, bright, and pressed flat against the surf

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes hair or fur that looks soft, bright, and pressed flat against the surface, usually because it has been well brushed or washed.

Example

Putri brushed her cat until its fur looked sleek and glossy.

collocation: sleek fur / sleek hair

The groomer made the old dog's coat sleek with a special shampoo.

Common collocations
  • sleek hair
  • sleek fur
  • sleek coat
  • sleek feathers
Synonyms
  • glossy

    focuses on the shine, not necessarily flatness

  • silky

    softer, warmer connotation, often of human hair

  • smooth

    more general, lacks the implication of careful grooming

Antonyms

Usage Note

Frequently used with nouns for body hair or fur (hair, coat, fur). Can also describe feathers on a bird.

Common Mistakes

The road was sleek after the rain.
The road was slick after the rain.
'sleek' describes well-cared-for hair or fur, not a slippery surface; use 'slick' for wet or slippery surfaces.

2. describes the look of a car, device, building, or piece of furniture that has a

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes the look of a car, device, building, or piece of furniture that has a clean, flowing shape with no sharp edges or extra parts sticking out.

Example

The new bullet train has a sleek design that cuts through the wind.

collocation: sleek design

At the furniture showroom, Inês admired the sleek lines of the modern wooden table.

Common collocations
  • sleek design
  • sleek lines
  • sleek shape
  • sleek look
  • sleek metal body
Synonyms
  • streamlined

    stronger implication of aerodynamic or efficient design

  • elegant

    more general, can apply to any beautiful thing

  • smooth

    focuses on texture rather than shape

Antonyms
  • bulky

    large and heavy in shape

  • clunky

    awkward-looking, not smooth

Usage Note

Often used in advertising and product reviews to suggest speed, efficiency, or modern luxury. Subject is typically a vehicle, electronic device, or architectural structure.

Common Mistakes

I bought a sleek pair of shoes.
I bought a stylish pair of shoes.
'sleek' for objects implies a clean, flowing, modern shape, not just good-looking; 'stylish' works better for accessories.

3. describes a person who wears fashionable, high-quality clothes and gives an impr

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a person who wears fashionable, high-quality clothes and gives an impression of wealth, success, and careful grooming.

Example

Ignacio arrived at the party looking sleek in his dark suit and polished shoes.

pattern: looking sleek in [clothing]

The sleek businessman wore a custom suit and designer watch stepping from a car.

Common collocations
  • sleek look
  • sleek outfit
  • sleek suit
  • looking sleek
Synonyms
  • well-groomed

    focuses on neatness and care, less on fashion

  • stylish

    emphasises fashion sense rather than wealth

  • dapper

    used mostly for men, implies neat and elegant

Antonyms
  • scruffy

    untidy, not well cared for

  • shabby

    worn-out, not high-quality

Usage Note

Implies an overall impression of polish — clothes, posture, and grooming together. Can carry a faint negative tone of being too image-conscious, though usually neutral or positive.

Common Mistakes

He is a sleek person, always helping others.
He is a polished person, always helping others.
'sleek' for a person refers to appearance and style, not personality or kindness; use 'polished' for refined social manner.

sleek — verb

Word family

  • sleekly
    adverbC1
  • sleekness
    nounC1
  • sleeked
    adjectiveC1
  • slick
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All five words describe a pleasing appearance or shape, but they highlight different features. 'Sleek' emphasises a clean, modern shape without rough edges — it suggests speed and efficiency, especially for vehicles and devices. 'Smooth' is more general and can describe any even surface or texture, from skin to wood to a drive. 'Streamlined' has a narrower scope: it literally describes shapes designed for minimal resistance in air or water, but it also extends metaphorically to efficient processes. 'Elegant' focuses on beauty and grace rather than function — a dress can be elegant without being sleek if it has flowing fabric. 'Slick' is the closest synonym to sleek but often carries a negative tone of being too smooth or superficially polished in a way that feels dishonest. Example: 'The car's sleek silhouette cut through the air' (sleek — physical shape). 'The company's streamlined approval process saved hours' (streamlined — efficient). 'The lawyer's slick arguments sounded rehearsed' (slick — clever but possibly dishonest).

sleek ↗smooth ↗streamlinedelegant ↗slick ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sleek design
  • sleek look
  • sleek lines
  • sleek appearance
  • sleek surface

Adverbs

  • beautifully sleek
  • perfectly sleek
  • surprisingly sleek

Phrases

  • sleek and stylish
  • sleek and modern
  • sleek and glossy

Prepositions

  • sleek in (appearance)
  • sleek with (product/gel)

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'sleek' comes from an old English word 'slīc', which meant 'smooth' or 'slippery'. It is a close relative of 'slick', which used to mean the same thing. In the 1500s, 'sleek' began to describe well-groomed hair or fur, and by the 1700s it was also being used for the smooth shape of objects. The more critical meaning — describing someone who is too smooth in manner — developed in the 1800s.