flirt 1 of 2

Definition of flirtnext
as in wanton
a person who playfully shows another amorous attention he's just a harmless flirt, so don't take him seriously

Synonyms & Similar Words

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flirt

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to tease
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun the servers at that restaurant flirt with all the customers

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to flit
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements lazily watched the butterflies flirting among the wildflowers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb flirt differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of flirt are coquet, dally, toy, and trifle. While all these words mean "to deal with or act toward without serious purpose," flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object.

flirted with one fashionable ism after another

When is coquet a more appropriate choice than flirt?

In some situations, the words coquet and flirt are roughly equivalent. However, coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention.

companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations

When could dally be used to replace flirt?

The synonyms dally and flirt are sometimes interchangeable, but dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement.

dallying with the idea of building a boat someday

When might toy be a better fit than flirt?

Although the words toy and flirt have much in common, toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers.

a political novice toying with great issues

In what contexts can trifle take the place of flirt?

The meanings of trifle and flirt largely overlap; however, trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt.

to trifle with a lover's feelings

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of flirt
Noun
Fire up the flirt pole Cats have teaser wands, dogs have flirt poles. Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 White breaks down where to meet men based on four different flirt styles. Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Wasserman, who is also the chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, is seen in the files flirting with Ghislaine Maxwell via email between 2001 and 2003. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026 While waiting for flights to resume, Charli’s character Bethany flirts with the idea of blowing up her life by rekindling a romance with an old friend who owns a flower shop in Warsaw. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flirt
Noun
  • Meier said their wanton and reckless conduct and failure to stop the boxing match led to Delgado-Garcia's serious injuries and death.
    Matt Schooley, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Yvonne Shanks faces charges of first-degree assault with domestic violence, first-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under, first-degree wanton endangerment and endangering the welfare of a minor.
    Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The reggaeton icon briefly teased his performance in a trailer released by Apple Music in January 2026.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Trump teased his non-prediction in a post on TikTok last week.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Even at 4 degrees below zero, waxwings flitted outside our room, which had a sauna large enough to be its own hotel room.
    Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Here’s what to do to get rid of pesky moths flitting around indoors.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In 2019, Lung made a deal with Pop Mart, a company that caters to toy connoisseurs and influencers, to sell the figurines.
    Fortune, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2025
  • On the heels of his success with Outer Banks, Lilah's father began to toy around with the idea of a show that details the origin story of a band, which would eventually turn into The Runarounds.
    Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Schools of fish drifted one above the other in a shifting, shimmering mesh, as neon-bright parrotfish, damselfish, and Moorish idols darted by.
    Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Commercial airplanes dart by, but one chartered flight sits parked away from the gates, a set of stairs pulled up to its open door.
    Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • These ads may not have fooled as many of us as their makers seemed to think.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
  • And don’t let the utilities and their friends fool you.
    Kendall Keelen, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The hand in motion, the fluttering scarf, the sparkling outfit.
    JD Barker, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026
  • As the early swooning over Newsom suggests, some voters’ hearts are fluttering over the prospect of his candidacy.
    Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The rise may seem trifling, but staffers work long hours, and a caffeine budget is a necessity.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The health factor is no trifling qualifier for a player who has missed time with shoulder and oblique injuries, in addition to that unfortunate incident with his pelvic floor.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Flirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirt. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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