1
as in coquettish
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest
the previously demure maiden began making some surprisingly shocking remarks
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shy
not comfortable around people
hesitant and demure, she hardly spoke a word at the banquet table
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in meek
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness
wore a very demure outfit to the interview for the job at the church's headquarters
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demure
The first half concerned the women of their parents’ generation—demure, without opinions, bright-skinned beauties lounging on daybeds with nothing to say, like pampered pets.
—
Kanak Kapur, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2025
Like most cultural happenings, brat catalyzed a dialogue in the zeitgeist that gave rise to another culture-defining moment, the demure meme.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Very demure, very mindful (August 2) @joolieannie #fyp #demure @OAKCHA @Paul | Fragrance Influencer
♬ original sound - Jools Lebron
The behavior of someone not like you other girls.
—Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
When Do Da-hae (The 8 Show’s Chun Woo-hee), a seemingly demure con artist with designs on the Bok’s riches, starts to flirt with him, a struggling Gwi-ju is too depressed to care.
—Kayti Burt, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demure 
Kanak Kapur, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2025
Like most cultural happenings, brat catalyzed a dialogue in the zeitgeist that gave rise to another culture-defining moment, the demure meme.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Very demure, very mindful (August 2) @joolieannie #fyp #demure @OAKCHA @Paul | Fragrance Influencer
♬ original sound - Jools Lebron
The behavior of someone not like you other girls.
—Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
When Do Da-hae (The 8 Show’s Chun Woo-hee), a seemingly demure con artist with designs on the Bok’s riches, starts to flirt with him, a struggling Gwi-ju is too depressed to care.
—Kayti Burt, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demure
Adjective
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The club has an owner in David Tepper who isn’t shy to take big swings.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Jan. 2025
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The team’s 502 points marked just the second time in franchise history that Tampa Bay totaled over 500 points and was just nine points shy of matching the franchise-best mark of 511 points in 2021.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Each tree has promised itself right up from the ground, branches full of dying... Elegy Written In A City Cemetery Sina Queyras Somebody left the world last night, and last, and last, and last: wild is the glower of wind, and words too thin, too meek to shelter.—
Max Ufberg,
hazlitt.net,
10 Jan. 2025
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He was supposed to be a meek guy who doesn’t speak up.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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His agent prob being quite coy and feeding the media to improve terms.—
Carl Anka,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
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Skeleton Crew plays a bit coy with which elements of Episodes IV through VI first became myth, then product.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Pettersson is more withdrawn, more cerebral, more sensitive and certainly not prone to confrontation by nature.—
Chris Johnston,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
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Introverts may become talkative, or extroverts quiet and withdrawn.—
Dr. Talia Varley,
Forbes,
16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Even Bend feels changed, its population surging, its character shifting, the way humble towns do when they are discovered by outsiders.—
John Branch,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
-
The Blakes are a humble family and the idea of her dad blowing past security to storm the court had Mikayla cracking up.—
Grace Raynor,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.—
Calin Van Paris,
Vogue,
15 Jan. 2023
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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
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Gemma the rescue dog's bashful streak has propelled the video to over 4.7 million views on TikTok.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
Newsweek,
9 Jan. 2025
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Tempranillo There’s nothing bashful about Triple-Chocolate Truffles, Peanut Butter Truffles, and Buckeyes.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Two excellent current QBs with modest sprint speed are Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
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In that case, Fox made a modest admission that incorrect claims had been made, but Dominion Voting Systems was able to reveal the size of the settlement — the more telling concession.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Demure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demure. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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