demure

adjective

de·​mure di-ˈmyu̇r 

1

a

: reserved or modest in manner

a demure smile

... cultural stereotypes of women being feminine and demure.

—Jacqueline Fitzgerald

b

: modestly styled or dressed

a demure neckline

... looked prim and proper in a demure dress ...

—Yaron Steinbuch

Meanwhile Meghan was demure in a long white gown and matching hat ...

—Kayla Walsh

2

: affectedly modest, reserved, or serious : coy

… Becky had a knack of adopting a demure ingénue air, under which she was most dangerous.

—William Makepeace Thackeray

demurely adverb

demureness noun

Did you know?

In the nearly seven centuries that demure has been in use, its meaning has only shifted slightly. While it began solely as a descriptive term for people of quiet modesty and sedate reserve—those who don't draw attention to themselves, whether because of a shy nature or determined self-control—it came to be applied also to those whose modesty and reservation is more affectation than sincere expression. While demure sounds French and entered the language at a time when the native tongue of England was borrowing many French words from the Normans, the etymological evidence requires that we exercise restraint: the word's origin remains obscure.

Synonyms

• coquettish
• coy
• kittenish
• flirtatious

Examples of demure in a Sentence

So even if you think you've moved past your reputation as The Rebel, two minutes after getting together with your more demure sister, you're likely to fall back into that hell-raiser role. —Jessica Mehalic, Cosmopolitan, August 2001

It looked as though the dress and capelet were one piece. It created a demure look, but if you take off the capelet, it's a seductive strapless dress. —Elizabeth Hayt, Vogue, December 1999

I made a lot of friends at Les Tourelles with whom I have kept in touch over the years. There was one darling little girl, much younger than the rest of us, who was sweet, demure, and quiet, with beautiful long hair like Alice in Wonderland. —Anna Russell, I'm Not Making This Up, You Know, 1985

She was wearing a demure gray suit.

the demure charm of the cottage

Recent Examples on the Web

Norma Shearer, an M-G-M star who became his wife, told the tale of meeting him for the first time and taking him for a demure office boy. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025

There were Hmong women with a certain style that never hit the pop culture radar: Tough, streetwise, cocksure and confident, deeply devoted to their families, friends and culture, but not the least bit demure or deferential. —Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 2 June 2025

While most footwear accessories that can be attached to laces tend to skew smaller, there’s nothing itty-bitty or demure about Coach’s take, seeing as how the vehicles measure over five inches in length and the dice clocks in at 1.75 inches for that metric. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 May 2025

The elegant bandeau style is timeless and versatile thanks to a multi-way strap that can be worn around the neck (like Moore did) to create a halter; or simply tied in a sweet bow for a demure strapless silhouette that eliminates tan lines altogether. —Jennifer Chan, People.com, 26 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for demure

• abjure
• adjure
• allure
• assure
• brochure
• cocksure
• coiffure
• contour
• couture
• detour
• endure
• ensure

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Kids Definition

demure

adjective

de·​mure di-ˈmyu̇(ə)r 

1

a

: quiet and polite

a demure young lady

b

: not showy or flashy

a demure gray dress

2

: falsely modest, reserved, or serious : coy

demurely adverb

demureness noun