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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demure
The energy is electric as previously demure audience members jump up and down, scream, and dance along in their seats.
—
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 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
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 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
-
With sheer fabrics, lightweight materials, and vintage touches, Bella Hadid succumbed to the most coquettish piece of the moment.—
Teresa Romero Martínez,
Glamour,
31 May 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Petco — Shares of the pet retailer dropped roughly 8% after Petco’s current-quarter forecast came in shy of Wall Street’s expectations.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
Though often despised, carp are exceedingly shy and difficult, and great fighters.—
Byron W. Dalrymple,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Their 1-1 draw instead brought a meek defence of their Premier League title to an end.—
Luke Bosher,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
-
Gone was the meek servant child, replaced by a confident woman who remained composed during aggressive cross-examination.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s no point trying to be coy or cryptic about this stuff.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
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Most manufacturers that have announced Wildcat Lake laptops are playing coy about pricing and availability—this is somewhat understandable, given ongoing pricing volatility and component supply shortages.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Patrick Stewart is also among those to have publicly discussed working with a withdrawn Hardy, who has also starred in The Dark Knight trilogy, Peaky Blinders and the Venom films.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
-
Read more on the deadly ripple effects of withdrawn aid.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
The solution is a more humble acknowledgment of what price indices can and cannot do, combined with policy institutions that reduce the stakes of getting measurement wrong.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
This $21 pair has an ankle strap for extra support and a humble two-inch heel.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
6 June 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
-
Brock Purdy isn’t bashful about the 49ers’ potential.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
21 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Demure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demure. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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