Balmy
What it means
Pleasantly warm and mild, especially in the air or weather.
Reach for it when describing outdoor conditions that feel gentle and inviting
A balmy breeze made the late supper comfortable on the terrace.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
-
playful
summery
Fits when weather recalls the brightness and ease of summer
Careful Summery can fit colors or clothing without saying the air is mild.
-
everyday
Fits when temperatures avoid both heat and cold
Careful Mild is neutral and may not convey sensory pleasure.
-
everyday
Fits when comfortable heat is the simple point
Careful Warm covers indoor objects and people, while balmy usually evokes air or weather.
-
formal
clement
Fits when favorable weather permits an activity to proceed
Careful Clement emphasizes lack of disruption, not sensuous warmth.
-
formal
Fits when moderate climate conditions need precise description
Careful Temperate sounds technical and lacks the relaxed mood of a balmy evening.
-
literary
soft
Fits when gentle air or light creates a delicate atmosphere
Careful Soft is too vague when actual temperature matters.
Opposites 3
- chilly
- frigid
- harsh
Common phrases 3
-
balmy evening
A balmy evening brought the reading group into the garden.
-
balmy weather
Balmy weather allowed the repairs to finish before sunset.
-
balmy breeze
A balmy breeze moved through the open pavilion.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
This page is about the pleasant weather sense. In some varieties of English, balmy can also mean foolish or eccentric.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Australian accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated