as in sophisticated
having or showing very polished and worldly manners
a gentlemanly and urbane host of elegant dinner parties
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of urbane
An urbane middle-aged couple was summoned to the bar for prime seats just as the man was pulling up a BBC video about barnacle geese, a species that nests on high cliffs and whose flightless newborns fling themselves hundreds of feet to reunite with their grazing parents.
—
Hilton Als, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
It’s based on writer-director-star Alan Alda’s 1981 film of the same name—an urbane box-office hit that has since been overshadowed by quintessentially ’80s rom-coms like When Harry Met Sally.
—Judy Berman, Time, 1 May 2025
While the town prided itself as the most urbane, sophisticated place between St. Louis and San Francisco, drunkenness, gambling and debauchery, typical of any frontier mining camp, were the hallmarks of its nightlife.
—Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025
Oliveira’s father was a wealthy industrialist, and a view from the old house’s perspective invokes the comforts that his family’s prosperity afforded, and, with these, the inner vistas, the aesthetic initiation that opened up to him in his urbane youth.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for urbane
Hilton Als, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
It’s based on writer-director-star Alan Alda’s 1981 film of the same name—an urbane box-office hit that has since been overshadowed by quintessentially ’80s rom-coms like When Harry Met Sally.
—Judy Berman, Time, 1 May 2025
While the town prided itself as the most urbane, sophisticated place between St. Louis and San Francisco, drunkenness, gambling and debauchery, typical of any frontier mining camp, were the hallmarks of its nightlife.
—Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025
Oliveira’s father was a wealthy industrialist, and a view from the old house’s perspective invokes the comforts that his family’s prosperity afforded, and, with these, the inner vistas, the aesthetic initiation that opened up to him in his urbane youth.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for urbane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for urbane
Adjective
-
Private-equity firms and non-bank lenders have grown impressively over the last few decades due to substantial demand for their offerings from those sophisticated investors.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 July 2025
-
What stands out most about the set is the classic hammered glass design of the dispensers and the ornate accents of the stand, which give everything a sophisticated, timeless feel.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
This is far, far beneath the dignity of a civilized society.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
-
Honoring and showing gratitude to those who step up to help others regardless of their origins is one sign of a civilized society that recognizes the worth of all human beings.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
The maxi gown featured a relaxed turtleneck, a bold red lily print and graceful draping down the length of her body.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
21 July 2025
-
With sculpted foliage and large, graceful blooms, Japanese anemones make a lovely tall groundcover or masing in mixed borders.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
18 July 2025
Adjective
-
Jordan is playing the billionaire with the art-loving sticky fingers, while Russell is the suave private detective.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
7 July 2025
-
The suave melodic tones of Stevie Wonder are what has been most recently invoked in his work.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
The man was gifted, gracious, often generous and seldom mean-spirited.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
10 July 2025
-
But goodness gracious, the Rockies are only (14-36) under Schaeffer after going 7-33 under Black.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Thumbsticks on both Joy-Con 2s feel smoother, although there's still no use of Hall effect or tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) to eliminate drift risk.—
Matt Kamen,
Wired News,
20 July 2025
-
Things were a lot smoother for Royals starter Kris Bubic.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Urbane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urbane. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share