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
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Recent Examples of coquettish
Soft blush and ivory tones, satin bows, lace details and dainty ornaments make your space feel dreamy and coquettish.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
Kardashian's coquettish bow headband was a surprisingly traditional and festive look for the All's Fair star, who generally prefers a sleeker hairstyle or long, loose waves versus sweet or cheeky accessories.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 4 Dec. 2025
Prada, Dries Van Noten, and Onitsuka Tiger all showed satin sneakers for spring, and celebrities like Julia Roberts and Charli XCX can’t stop wearing Vivaia’s coquettish sneakerinas.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 14 Nov. 2025
Their pearly-white feathers and coquettish long necks have been popping up all over the home decor space in recent months—on tabletops, in paper form, and even in lighting.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 12 Nov. 2025
Nab this charming bag, which comes in all sorts of coquettish florals and prints that flawlessly fit the aesthetic.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
Portman added a pair of black heels with coquettish design elements, including the small bows on the front of the shoe.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
The new 14-track collection ballasts her familiar dreamy, coquettish sound with vulnerability and anguish.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
Kardashian's coquettish bow headband was a surprisingly traditional and festive look for the All's Fair star, who generally prefers a sleeker hairstyle or long, loose waves versus sweet or cheeky accessories.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 4 Dec. 2025
Prada, Dries Van Noten, and Onitsuka Tiger all showed satin sneakers for spring, and celebrities like Julia Roberts and Charli XCX can’t stop wearing Vivaia’s coquettish sneakerinas.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 14 Nov. 2025
Their pearly-white feathers and coquettish long necks have been popping up all over the home decor space in recent months—on tabletops, in paper form, and even in lighting.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 12 Nov. 2025
Nab this charming bag, which comes in all sorts of coquettish florals and prints that flawlessly fit the aesthetic.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
Portman added a pair of black heels with coquettish design elements, including the small bows on the front of the shoe.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
The new 14-track collection ballasts her familiar dreamy, coquettish sound with vulnerability and anguish.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coquettish
Adjective
-
Seductively kittenish, Gardner lives up to her profane reputation.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2023
-
Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.—
Calin Van Paris,
Vogue,
15 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
But the sleekness, the coy refusal to play the big and obvious dress game, propelled the look into a new definition of cool.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
-
As for a tactical profile, Wells was a bit coy in delving into specifics, but the Rapids raved about the presentations.—
Tom Bogert,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The result is fun and flirtatious.—
Omenaa Boakye,
InStyle,
31 Dec. 2025
-
The vibe is flirtatious, playful and full of banter, Libra.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Guardiola, usually a manager who passionately cajoles his players on the sidelines, cut a far more demure figure in the second half.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
1 Dec. 2025
-
The pageant’s swimsuit (read: bikini) contest meanwhile endures, years after competitions like Miss World and Miss America ditched theirs in favor of marginally more demure alternatives, such as athleisure parades.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
29 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coquettish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coquettish. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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