1
as in coquettish
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest
the previously demure maiden began making some surprisingly shocking remarks
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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
Think of it as a louder Italian cousin to the Gibson, the more demure martini with a pearl onion.
—
Restaurant Critic, Houston Chronicle, 8 Apr. 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
Restaurant Critic, Houston Chronicle, 8 Apr. 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
-
The desire for mental stimulation, variety and excitement is undeniable, but beneath all of the coquettish energy, something vulnerable is also starting to unfold.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
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
-
Morrow was especially dominant in the second, putting up 10 points and six rebounds to come just shy of a second straight first-half double-double.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
Maglares finished one out shy of a complete game for the Rockets in a 4-2 Fox Valley Conference win.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
This anger crackles around him like a smoldering fire, igniting and engulfing everyone from the workers on his farm, his meek sister Férula (Fernanda Castillo), to Clara and, eventually, to their daughter, Blanca (Sara Becker and later Fernanda Urrejola), Alba’s idealistic mother.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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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
Adjective
-
Joining Ferrell in Studio 8H is McCartney, whose been coy about the setlist for the big night.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
If something about the now-problematic gender-bending killer of Camp Miasma reminds you of 1983’s Sleepaway Camp, Schoenbrun is not coy about the parallel.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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The typically quiet, withdrawn student seemed more engaged in his first-period class than usual, English teacher Sarah Murer told investigators.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
The withdrawn draft focused on setting up several new watchdogs to keep AI in check, including a dedicated commission and a special insurance fund to help people if the new technology caused harm.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
My occupations have given me a happy, humble, quiet life, but always nagging in the back of my mind has been a case of impostor syndrome.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
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Gregory Lorenzi has spent the past 10 years at Brest, where his eye for a bargain helped to catapult the humble Breton club from mid-table mediocrity in Ligue 2 to a third-place finish in Ligue 1 and a fairytale Champions League campaign.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Simply brushing them out of your eyes can feel like a coquettish, kittenish gesture!—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Seductively kittenish, Gardner lives up to her profane reputation.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2023
Adjective
-
Lennon’s recounting of his and Ono’s meeting at a London show of her work, and of the bashful courtship that followed, is one of the most tender and revealing parts of the interview.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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Kehlani has never been bashful about her sexuality or bedroom behavior (see: her viral dance moves at her recent live shows), and no project of hers would be complete without a steamy number for the after-hours playlist.—
Adelle Platon,
VIBE.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demure. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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