Definition

1. Noun:
   • Oppressively hot and humid weather: The quality of being extremely hot and humid in a way that feels heavy and uncomfortable.
   • The quality of expressing or arousing sexual desire: A quality of being sexually attractive in a way that is intense, passionate, or seductive.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to weather:

  • The sultriness of the tropical afternoon made it difficult to breathe.
  • Everyone sought refuge indoors from the relentless sultriness of the summer day.

• Referring to a sexually charged quality:

  • The sultriness in her voice was captivating.
  • The film was noted for the sultriness of its lead performances.

Advanced Usage

• Descriptive Use: Often used to describe an atmosphere, whether meteorological or emotional, that feels heavy, intense, and immersive.
  • The sultriness of the jazz club, filled with smoke and slow music, was palpable.

Variants and Related Words

• Sultry (adjective):
  • (Of weather) hot and humid.

    • a sultry evening
  • (Of a person or their manner) displaying or suggesting a powerful sexual attraction.

    • a sultry glance

Synonyms

• For weather: mugginess, oppressiveness, stickiness, humidity.
• For sexual allure: sensuousness, seductiveness, passion, voluptuousness.

Antonyms

• For weather: freshness, crispness, coolness, dryness.
• For sexual allure: frigidity, coldness, modesty, chastity.

Noun

1. the quality of expressing or arousing sexual desire
   • the sultriness of her look was unmistakable
   • the sultriness of lust was in the air
2. oppressively hot and humid weather