coquettish

as in kittenish
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest an 18th-century painting of a coquettish maiden dallying with a young moonstruck gallant

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coquettish
Adjective
  • Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023
  • 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
  • While Feig remained coy, the audience's fervent response suggested the appetite for a third installment is real.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • Again, the younger James offers a simple yet coy response.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Mars joined Rosé onstage at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium to showcase the flirtatious track, which sees the pair dueting on vocals and sharing the hooky chorus.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
  • Dinklage is particularly amusing as the giddy, genteel Prater, while Ritter balances wry disdain with flirtatious charm as Mia. Hall is, as always, entertaining as Dexter, delivering his character’s signature blend of deadpan humor and an earnest façade.
    EW.com, EW.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • The demure Italian gent and his tiny-waisted mistress.
    Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025
  • While Indianapolis 500 fans have never been known for their demure behavior, those who watch the race from the Snake Pit have long had a reputation for being the rowdiest of the rowdy.
    Shari Rudavsky, IndyStar, 23 May 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Coquettish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coquettish. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

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