1
as in to tease
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun
the servers at that restaurant flirt with all the customers
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to flit
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
lazily watched the butterflies flirting among the wildflowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in flirtatiousness
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others
somehow got the bizarre notion that flirtation was appropriate during a job interview
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of flirt
Jennifer Culp, Them, 12 July 2024
Song fictionalized this first encounter in Past Lives in a woozy scene where protagonist Nora (Greta Lee) flirts with future husband Arthur (John Magaro) under the fairy lights at a dreamlike residency.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2024
Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
Liam Payne and Cheryl make their red carpet debut
After months of speculation and some internet flirting, Cheryl and Payne finally made their red debut at the Global Gift Gala, where the Girls Aloud singer was honored with the Global Gift Philanthropist Award, per E!
—Jade Gomez, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flirt 
Noun
Mercury mimics some of the Sun’s social interactions, while Venus falls for the North Node of the future and flirts with lucky Jupiter on the side.
—Jennifer Culp, Them, 12 July 2024
Song fictionalized this first encounter in Past Lives in a woozy scene where protagonist Nora (Greta Lee) flirts with future husband Arthur (John Magaro) under the fairy lights at a dreamlike residency.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2024
Verb
Kate discloses this revelation to British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi) with whom she's been flirting a car bomb goes off in London killing or injuring several of Kate's colleagues and her husband, Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell).
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
Liam Payne and Cheryl make their red carpet debut
After months of speculation and some internet flirting, Cheryl and Payne finally made their red debut at the Global Gift Gala, where the Girls Aloud singer was honored with the Global Gift Philanthropist Award, per E!
—Jade Gomez, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flirt
Thesaurus Entries Near flirt
Cite this Entry
“Flirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirt. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share