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 In just a few years, Burke had transformed from a boyish, homeschooled gamer into a streaming-era idol. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026 Parker is perpetually just on the verge of manhood — youthful, optimistic, with a somewhat innocent boyish sense of romance. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 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 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
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
  • Alex, pointedly called Alexa by her mother (Florencia Lozano), who hates Alex’s tomboyish style, works in a bodega and looks after her brother a lot.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of tomboyish
Adjective
  • James’s obsessive love, his unwillingness to go on without his beloved, is treated as childish, if not a version of sweaty insanity.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In just a few short weeks, his childish, naive world becomes brutally adult.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of childish
Adjective
  • These leaders ascended to the international stage with a mixture of macho populism and a Trumpian right-wing, authoritarian aesthetic.
    — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026
  • We’ve both been brought up playing sport our entire lives, which is quite the macho, classic lad setting.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of macho
Adjective
  • The mood the girls give off feels like their bold generation of girly pop, which also gives off this youthful, confident charm.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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 25 Aug. 2026.

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