lissome

Bendable and elegant

Lissome describes a body that is flexible, graceful, and moves with ease—supple in a way that suggests youth or athleticism.

The word applies especially to dancers, gymnasts, and the naturally agile: her lissome figure, lissome movements across the stage.

Literary and slightly old-fashioned, it carries an appreciative, almost admiring tone.

graceful

elegant

Gracefully refined, tasteful

poisedCalm and controlled
swanlikeResembling an elegant waterfowl
balleticResembling choreographed dance

fluid · willowy · ethereal · sylphlike · airy · effortless · flowing · sinuous · gliding · dancer

slender

svelte

Gracefully slender

slimThin or meager
willowyTall, slim, pliant
leanLacking fat; incline

slight · delicate · waifish · sylph · wispy · petite · dainty · trim

agile

nimble

Quick and light-moving

spryLively despite years
lightfootedMoving with minimal impact
quickMoving with speed

sprightly · fleet · acrobatic · dexterous · athletic · swift · brisk · energetic · active · zippy

supple

flexible

Able to bend freely

pliantEasily bent or influenced
bendableAble to curve
elasticAble to stretch, rebounds

pliable · yielding · springy · resilient · stretchy · loose-limbed · relaxed · uninhibited

Categories

agilityagile, nimble, quick, spry, fleet-footed
attractiveattractive, beautiful, gorgeous, pretty, handsome
flexibilitystretch, elastic, bendy, stretchy, bendable
archaic wordsthee, thou, thy, thine, tis

Opposites

physical grace and movement

lissomeclumsy

Lacking physical coordination

ungainly · graceless · awkward · ungraceful · lumbering

body type and build

lissomeportly

Heavyset, especially around waist

heavyset · bulky · ponderous · hulking · lumpish

physical flexibility

lissomestiff

Not easily bent

rigid · inflexible · unyielding · unbending · inelastic

Family

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G