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willowy

/ˈwɪloʊi/
/ˈwɪləʊwi/
IPA guide

If someone's tall, slender, and graceful, you can describe them as willowy. Your willowy friend might prefer hip-hop, but she is as lithe and elegant as a ballet dancer.

When a person is willowy, they're as long, lean, and flexible as the branch of a willow tree blowing in the breeze. This adjective was first used in this way around 1790 — earlier, it meant "shaded or bordered by willow trees." And in the 17th century, before willowy was coined, the now-obsolete willowish was used to mean "the color of willow leaves."

Definitions of willowy
  1. adjective
    slender and graceful
    synonyms: gracile
    graceful
    characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution
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