Sultry describes weather that feels hot, humid, and heavy, like the thick air before a thunderstorm on a summer afternoon. When it's sultry outside, the heat seems to press down on you, and the moisture in the air makes everything feel sticky and uncomfortable. You might notice that sultry days make it harder to cool off, even in the shade, because your sweat doesn't evaporate as easily in humid air.

A sultry August evening might send people searching for air conditioning or a cool swimming pool. Sultry weather often signals that rain is coming, as all that moisture in the air eventually condenses into storm clouds.

The word can also describe a voice or manner that sounds warm, low, and smooth, with a kind of intensity to it. A singer might have a sultry voice that draws listeners in with its rich, velvety quality. In this sense, sultry suggests something both attractive and powerful, like heat that you notice and might not mind.