coquettish

as in kittenish
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest an 18th-century painting of a coquettish maiden dallying with a young moonstruck gallant

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coquettish
Adjective
  • Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023
  • With a basis of flawless skin—smoothing and hydration offered via Kylie Skin Face Moisturizer and Eye Cream—Phillips pulled a thick wing of black liner along Jenner's lids, a diminutive wing beneath the lower lashline providing a kittenish complement.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2021
Adjective
  • From fairly early on, Paradise puts its cards on the table and, from there, isn’t really coy at all.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Asked if Democrats were trying to incite that clash, Bera was coy.
    Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But online Becca is different, more free and flirtatious.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
  • The creators broke down how Lively appeared to initiate intimacy with Baldoni by pulling him in for kisses while appearing comfortable, content and perhaps even a little flirtatious during private conversations while filming.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Compared with Sanchez’s getup, the buttoned-up Adam Lippes coat and wide-brimmed Eric Javits hat worn by Melania Trump to the Inauguration were tasteful, even demure.
    Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
  • TikTok users struggled to be demure (another viral TikTok trend) but, in the end, many of them didn’t stick around for the Supreme Court to rule or for the federal ban to take effect.
    Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near coquettish

Cite this Entry

“Coquettish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coquettish. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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