Definitions

sexy

[sek-see] / ˈsɛk si /

ADJECTIVE

being erotically attractive to another

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hot inviting mature provocative racy seductive sensual sensuous

WEAK

arousing come-hither cuddly flirtatious kissable libidinous provoking risqué slinky spicy steamy suggestive titillating voluptuous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

distasteful

WEAK

disgusting unattractive unsexy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for sexy?

Sexy is most commonly used to describe someone considered sexually attractive, but it gets used in all kinds of other ways. sexually attractive When you describe a person as sexy, it often suggests that you are sexually attracted to them. A very similar term for this sense of the word is hot, which is very informal and, like sexy, can be objectifying. A perhaps more tasteful way of saying this is simply attractive. Words like gorgeous, beautiful, good-looking, and pretty are all used in reference to looks but are less directly tied to sex. All of these words, including sexy, can be used to simply imply that you think a person looks good (as opposed to implying that you find them sexually attractive), like when you say that your friend looks sexy as a compliment. A word that accomplishes the same thing but is less focused on physical appearance is fierce. You could also just say, “You look great!” Sexy most often relates to a person’s physical appearance, but this is not always the case. A person may be considered sexy for many other reasons, such as their sense of humor or interests. The word attractive is also commonly used to indicate this, as in I find men with good taste in books very attractive. sexually appealing Sometimes, the word is used to describe something that’s thought to be sexually appealing—by making someone more sexually attractive, as in a sexy accent or I want to find a sexy dress for the wedding. In the case of the dress, the word flirty can mean about the same thing. A more intense version is seductive. sexually stimulating The sense of sexy that means “sexually stimulating” is often applied to media, like books and movies, that contain sexual elements intended to be stimulating, especially as their primary focus. Many of the synonyms for this sense of sexy are a bit euphemistic, meaning they’re intended to be a bit softer or less direct. These include racy, risqué, steamy, sensual, and titillating. Something that deals with sexual elements somewhat indirectly—such as through innuendos—can be called sexually suggestive. Other words carry a tone of judgment, indicating that such things are offensive or inappropriate, including lewd and vulgar. The word dirty can be used in this negative way or in a more playful way that’s essentially a euphemism despite its generally negative connotation, as in dirty magazines. Sometimes, this use of sexy is pretty literal—saying that someone sent you sexy texts typically means the texts had some form of sexual content. The word sexual can be used to mean the same thing, but it’s typically used in a broader and more neutral way to mean “involving or related to sex,” as in sexual content or sexual orientation. exciting or flashy The word sexy is also commonly used in a kind of figurative way to describe things that are exciting in some way, as in It’s hard to get people to pay attention to campaign finance reform because it’s not a sexy topic, but it’s very important. Similar words include compelling, engaging, and interesting. This sense of sexy is usually used in negative contexts (when describing things that are specifically not sexy in this way), but not always. Cars are often described or advertised as sexy, for example. Descriptive words that suggest something similar include flashy and fancy.

What is another word for sexiness?

Sexiness is the quality of being sexy: sexually attractive, sexually appealing, or interesting and exciting. Most commonly, sexiness is used in the same way as attractiveness, especially in reference to a person’s looks. Saying that a person exudes sexiness is similar to saying they have sex appeal. These descriptions are often applied to movie stars in the context of their on-screen attractiveness. The words allure and charisma can achieve the same meaning without referencing looks or sex. When sexiness is applied to media like books or movies, the word sensuality can be used in the same way. The word sexuality can be used in a similar way, but it’s usually used more broadly in reference to sexual identity or sexual expression.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

sexy sexier sexiest

Berlin's former mayor Klaus Wowereit once famously labelled Berlin "poor but sexy" -- but since then many of its residents have at times struggled to stay in love with the city.

From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026

"Even wheelchair bound, he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans," wrote his Rocky Horror co-star Susan Sarandon, who described Curry as a "funny, sexy, original".

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

“It wasn’t a dress that was trying too hard or too overtly sexy, but classically pretty in a very Audrey Hepburn-esque way,” says Felix-Hager.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

At the same time, he said he pulled back on sexy but ultimately useless initiatives, like robot servers, and has been selective about which generative AI applications are worth pursuing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

He was wiry, slight, with small, downward- sloping eyes and an intellectual, ravaged-looking face that she found sexy though not handsome.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

I think it was caught up in that moment where being a tech company was sexier.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2023

It was widely believed that the series, whose protagonist was a bicycle-riding widow living in a small town in Maine, had little chance against sexier competition like the action crime drama “Knight Rider” on NBC.

From New York Times ● Oct. 11, 2022

Perhaps a poor showing this weekend would have made Speedway Motorsports strongly consider bumping Dover off the slate completely to a sexier new site.

From Washington Times ● May 3, 2022

We could make mass transit more attractive, more efficient, sexier by investing to improve the frequency of bus service.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 18, 2021

Stuart Webb, professor of applied linguistics at the University of Western Ontario, has studied the process of learning vocabulary or - to give it its sexier name - language acquisition.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2018

A recent online debate was sparked between fans comparing People magazine's choice for 2026's sexiest man alive, The Pitt actor Noah Wyle, with the 2025 winner, Wicked star Jonathan Bailey.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

Poles and wires are not typically the sexiest of topics in a world of high-stakes politics, war, social media and the glamour of Hollywood.

From New York Times ● Jul. 26, 2023

It was hardly the sexiest transaction of the first evening of the NFL draft, let alone the entire weekend, but the business the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots conducted Thursday was plenty intriguing.

From Washington Post ● May 2, 2023

For starters, his meteoric rise happens literally overnight, and his success is comically huge: he’s on the cover of every magazine, named sexiest man alive, and breaks virtually every sales record in the industry.

From The Verge ● Sep. 12, 2022

“Let me tell you: Dick Donner directing is truly the sexiest man alive,” Shuler Donner said at a film academy tribute to the director in 2017.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 5, 2021

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