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Synonyms for savoir-faire

Grammar : Noun
Spell : sav-wahr-fair; French sa-vwar-fer
Phonetic Transcription : ˈsæv wɑrˈfɛər; French sa vwarˈfɛr

Définition of savoir-faire

Origin :
  • "instinctive knowledge of the right course of action in any circumstance," 1815, from French, literally "to know (how) to do," from savoir "to know" (from Latin sapere; see sapient) + faire (from Latin facere; see factitious). French also has savoir-vivre "ability in good society; knowledge of customs in the world."
  • noun diplomacy
Example sentences :
  • Here her energy and savoir-faire rendered her indispensable in every department.
  • Extract from : « Agnes of Sorrento » by Harriet Beecher Stowe
  • In Glasgow, show your savoir-faire; but, in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, your savoir-vivre.
  • Extract from : « Friend Mac Donald » by Max O'Rell
  • Determined that never again, even to herself, should she call me a boy, I summoned to my aid all the savoir-faire I could command.
  • Extract from : « The Rose of Old St. Louis » by Mary Dillon
  • A certain cheery impertinence which characterized Charlie was fondly set down as savoir-faire and dash.
  • Extract from : « Tomaso's Fortune and Other Stories » by Henry Seton Merriman
  • The savoir-faire which would have helped some men to take the rebuke entirely deserted him.
  • Extract from : « The Drunkard » by Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
  • It has appeared to me that he disdains to exhibit his savoir-faire before a single eye-witness.
  • Extract from : « The Bird » by Jules Michelet
  • But who can ever have been deceived that here was any one save a timorous defaulter in the matter of savoir-faire?
  • Extract from : « The Life of Francis Thompson » by Everard Meynell
  • Bindle, not to be outdone in savoir-faire, picked up the menu and regarded it with wrinkled brow.
  • Extract from : « Adventures of Bindle » by Herbert George Jenkins
  • He even wondered a little at Nan's savoir-faire, and felt a vague sense of disappointment mingling with his relief.
  • Extract from : « Name and Fame » by Adeline Sergeant
  • No; he surely hadn't meant admiration for her savoir-faire; yet, for some reason, Missy didn't feel disappointed.
  • Extract from : « Missy » by Dana Gatlin

Antonyms for savoir-faire

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019