boyish

adjective

Definition of boyishnext
1
as in girlish

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in tomboyish

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example 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 boyish Despite—or, rather, because of—his boyish charm, Holland has reached the peak of male movie stardom. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 28 July 2026 At sixty-six, Araki maintains his mop of boyish dark hair and arch, flirtatious disposition. — Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 26 July 2026 Then step up your baggy jeans game with some sassy satin sandals for an extra feminine touch to offset the boyish, loose fit. — Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 26 July 2026 The 20-year-old combines a boyish charm with something deeper, turning out reflective tunes full of big feelings and sharp storytelling. — Rolling Stone, 5 July 2026 But his boyish face might never be plastered across TV adverts or the billboards of Times Square in the way his sporting peers are. — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Trying to shed ‘nice-guy tendencies’ Jeff Whittington stands in front of the room, flashes a boyish smile, and prepares to be lambasted. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 27 June 2026 From beginning to end, there’s a joyfulness and a boyish innocence to IOI’s new iteration of the character, which surprised me. — Alex James Kane, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 And Rudd, as the happy mid-lifer who can’t help wanting a little more, is appealing in that characteristically boyish, Rudd-like way, though there’s also something deeply wistful about him. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boyish
  1. girlish
  2. tomboyish
  3. childish
  4. macho
  5. girlie
Adjective
  • Fashion influencers will film themselves mid-bite to spread the social media gospel of the girlish treat.
    — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Known for her breathy, sultry yet girlish vocal style, Longet achieved significant success on the record charts, beginning with her 1967 debut album, Claudine, and, to a lesser extent, the subsequent The Look of Love (1967) and Love Is Blue (1968).
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Definition of girlish
Adjective
  • Embrace those tomboyish vibes with a coordinated set like Bella Hadid's powder-blue look, or give them a fashion-forward twist by pairing them with a statement top like Palmer.
    — Maggie Kreienberg, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
  • Both those films centered on women whose grim worlds were closing in on them — a tomboyish auto mechanic in Closeness; a nurse and the frontline friend who turns on her in Beanpole.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Definition of tomboyish
Adjective
  • Designing a kid-friendly room no longer means settling for decor that looks childish.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 29 July 2026
  • The basics of investing are set out in accessible, but not childish, terms, and the little tutorials are free of any hint of edutainment or corniness.
    — Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of childish
Adjective
  • The headlong pacing allows nary a breather, though there are enough wry notes, character quirks and offbeat details (remote-control doors, goats, a knife fight on a waterbed) to prevent macho monotony from setting in.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026
  • The macho myth Decades of research undercut Hegseth’s core claim that more testosterone means a more aggressive, dominant, masculine man.
    — Adam Stanaland, The Conversation, 20 July 2026
Definition of macho
Adjective
  • Burke pointed out that Cooper is about eight years ahead of Earle, career-wise, so maybe Earle will age out of the relatable, grateful, vapid-girlie role soon enough.
    — Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
  • Go girly with silver starbursts accented with a mix of hot pink and baby pink centers.
    — Jasmine Washington, InStyle, 15 July 2026
Definition of girlie

Browse Nearby Words

boyhoods
boyish
boyishness
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Cite this Entry

“Boyish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boyish. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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