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Glite Dictionary
sweltry

sweltry

9.1
A very hot and humid feeling that makes you uncomfortable
  • adjective
  • /ˈswɛltri/
translation icon : sofocante
  • Despite the fan, the sweltry night made sleeping nearly impossible.

Examples

  • The sweltry atmosphere in the greenhouse wilted the flowers.

  • The sweltry afternoon made everyone feel lethargic.

  • We escaped the sweltry afternoon by going to a shaded café.

  • What a sweltry day!

  • Despite the fan, the sweltry night made sleeping nearly impossible.

  • We escaped the sweltry afternoon by going to a shaded café.

  • The sweltry atmosphere in the greenhouse wilted the flowers.

Synonyms

close
vssweltry
29 3.4

Too warm and without fresh air

is oppression from heat and humidity rather than only stale air
sticky
vssweltry
24 1.0

Hot, humid weather that makes you feel sweaty and uncomfortable

is the broader oppressive condition beyond just feeling sweaty
clammy
vssweltry
21 3.5

A little damp, slightly sticky, and cool in a way that feels unpleasant

is oppressively hot and humid, not cool dampness
steamy
vssweltry
13 3.0

Hot and humid, often making you sweat

is stronger and more oppressively discomforting than warm humidity
stuffy
vssweltry
13 2.7

A room with little fresh air that feels uncomfortable to breathe in

is oppressive hot and humid rather than only poor ventilation
hot as hell
vssweltry
  • Informal
9 7.5

Very hot in a way that feels uncomfortable

is oppressive heat combined with humidity rather than only extreme heat
muggy
vssweltry
9 2.6

Warm, sticky air that feels wet and uncomfortable

is more oppressive and likely to cause clear discomfort
sultry
vssweltry
5 5.3

Very hot and humid in an uncomfortable way

is oppressive heat and humidity without stressing stickiness
stifling
vssweltry
4 5.3

Very hot, close air that makes it hard to breathe

is oppressive hot humid discomfort but less focused on suffocation
sweltering
vssweltry
1 4.8

Weather that is very hot and humid makes you sweat and feel uncomfortable

is oppressive heat and humidity causing discomfort but less about heavy sweating
sulfurous
vssweltry
  • Archaic
1 7.2

Hot, heavy air that feels hard to breathe

is the general term for oppressive heat and humidity beyond atmosphere
smothering
vssweltry
1 6.7

Thick hot air that makes it hard to breathe

is oppressive hot and humid without always implying no fresh air
stewy
vssweltry
  • Australian
7.2

Hot, humid air that feels close and stuffy

is oppressive heat and humidity not always causing closeness
fuggy
vssweltry
  • UK
9.9

Warm and stuffy because there is little fresh air

is oppressive heat and humidity rather than simply poor ventilation
blistery
vssweltry
5.8

Very hot and likely to burn the skin

is oppressive hot and humid causing discomfort not necessarily blistering risk

Antonyms

cool
608 1.0

A fairly low temperature that feels pleasant

refreshing
1 2.6

Giving a pleasant feeling of new energy

How Hot

sweltry
9.1
sultry
5 5.3
hot
∞ 1.0
warm
∞ 1.0
mild
107 1.0

Surface Forms

sweltry positive

Morphology

sweltry = swelter (transparent) = swelter + y

Formed directly from 'swelter' with the adjectival suffix '-y', so the meaning 'characterized by oppressive heat' is predictable.

Etymology

The word sweltry comes from the verb swelter and the ending -y. Swelter came from an old English word meaning 'to be overcome' by heat or even 'to die' from heat, so sweltry means 'very hot and humid' and uncomfortable.