1
as in coquettish
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest
the previously demure maiden began making some surprisingly shocking remarks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in shy
not comfortable around people
hesitant and demure, she hardly spoke a word at the banquet table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in meek
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness
wore a very demure outfit to the interview for the job at the church's headquarters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demure
At Sandy Liang, demure bows popped up on skirt pockets and hemlines.
—
Alice Robb, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2026
Mattieu Blazy's latest for the Parisian House is simultaneously demure and completely see-through in his couture debut.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 27 Jan. 2026
This sensibility is wonderfully demure (to use the mot du jour) and understated, letting the true star—the sweeping views of Portofino Bay, glimpsed through the doors to the balconies—really shine.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Sofia the First boasts a princess who is not demure, but instead loves adventure and stands up for what’s right.
—Taylor Grothe, Parents, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demure
Alice Robb, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2026
Mattieu Blazy's latest for the Parisian House is simultaneously demure and completely see-through in his couture debut.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 27 Jan. 2026
This sensibility is wonderfully demure (to use the mot du jour) and understated, letting the true star—the sweeping views of Portofino Bay, glimpsed through the doors to the balconies—really shine.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Sofia the First boasts a princess who is not demure, but instead loves adventure and stands up for what’s right.
—Taylor Grothe, Parents, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demure
Adjective
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Throughout the visual, the three-time Grammy winner can be seen traipsing through the palace's opulent halls in a coquettish ensemble, capturing the elation of newfound romance.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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The intelligence official, who helps train America’s newest generation of overseas intelligence officers, said these pretend tourists feign a lack of English, adopt a coquettish manner and play dumb to probe the area’s perimeter and identify its weak and strong points.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In other words, the Chargers won’t be shy about using Mesidor equally in running or passing situations.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
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Skeptics point out oral exams can be unsettling for students who are shy or have serious anxiety, but clarifying the format ahead of time and starting with softball questions can help, says Carolyn Aslan, who leads Cornell’s oral exam training.—
Jocelyn Gecker,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That included a meek loss in Toronto, with Murray not participating on the second night of a back-to-back following a blowout loss at Detroit.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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The other, meek and mild-mannered.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Smith engaged in such coy gamesmanship ahead of Game 1, even on obvious matters such as his starting goalie.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
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For now, Anteotokounmpo, 31, remains coy, his words wrapped in riddles and his intentions couched in caveats, even as ESPN continues to report that a trade (somewhere) is viewed as inevitable and even as the two-time MVP insists that a trade is not his decision.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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Along the way, Babilonia matured from the shy withdrawn child who refused to hold a boy’s hand into a bold, strong and confident woman.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Stribing was equal parts humble, low key and polite — not at all in keeping with the image of a diva wide receiver.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Purple, pink, and red are more exciting, but a humble green offers an escape from what sometimes seems like excitement that never ends.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Simply brushing them out of your eyes can feel like a coquettish, kittenish gesture!—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
9 Feb. 2026
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Seductively kittenish, Gardner lives up to her profane reputation.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2023
Adjective
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The bashful display marks rock-bottom for Gabbard’s career.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, some of Brady’s former teammates with the Patriots weren’t bashful about their loyalty heading into Super Bowl LX between the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, including Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demure. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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