Dapper
adj.joyful, capablewarm
What it means
Neatly dressed with a lively, deliberate sense of style.
Reach for it when complimenting polished appearance without suggesting extravagance
The dapper bookseller paired a linen suit with green socks.
Choose between these
6- playful
when a brisk, modern compliment suits the relationship
not when The slang can feel too casual in a formal profile or historical description.
- everyday
when tidy, appropriate dress is enough for the praise
not when Smart also means intelligent, and it does not always carry dapper's jaunty charm.
- everyday
when current taste or a distinctive look matters most
not when A dramatic fashionable outfit can be stylish without looking neat or restrained.
- professional
when grooming and presentation feel fully finished
not when Polished can describe practiced behavior and may sound corporate rather than personally stylish.
- professional
when cleanliness and careful grooming are the evidence
not when Good grooming alone does not establish the flair implied by dapper.
- literary
when charm and social ease accompany the clothes
not when Debonair makes a claim about manner as well as appearance, which a photograph may not support.
Said against
3- scruffy
- unkempt
- slovenly
It naturally appears in
3- dapper suit
His dapper suit brought a cheerful note to the winter ceremony.
- dapper gentleman
A dapper gentleman welcomed visitors at the museum door.
- look dapper
The choir members look dapper in their new navy jackets.