Sleekers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who act in a smooth, flattering, or ingratiating manner to gain favor or advantage ; objects or surfaces characterized by a polished, smooth, and glossy appearance suggesting refinement or elegance ; those who attempt to present themselves or something as superior or sophisticated through charming or slick behavior
2. Persons exhibiting a refined, smooth style in their demeanor to influence others ; items or materials noted for their shiny, well-maintained, and streamlined look indicating sophistication ; people who employ suave and polished tactics or presentation to impress or persuade
3. Characters known for their slick, polished behavior intended to charm or manipulate ; things distinguished by a glossy, sleek texture or form implying neatness or sleekness ; figures who use smooth, elegant approaches in speech or conduct to gain social or professional advantage

Etymology: "Sleekers" is the plural of "sleeker," which is simply "sleek" with the suffix "-er" added. "Sleek" traces back through Middle English "slike" and Old English "slīcan," meaning something like "to smooth" or "to make smooth," a sense still visible in the older idea of a sleek surface as one free of roughness. The adjective later came to mean glossy, shiny, or well-groomed, and from there it could describe a person who is smooth in appearance or manner. The "-er" ending has a longer ancestry than the word it attaches to. It descends from Latin "-arius," a suffix that formed nouns and adjectives denoting a person or thing connected with something, and it entered English through Old French "-ier" and Middle English "-er." Because the suffix was so productive, English speakers could attach it to almost any adjective, which is how "sleeker" came to be formed as a comparative.

Synonyms: polishers, smoothers, glossers

Antonyms: rougheners, matters