flirt 1 of 2

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

Relevance

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
Hank is a self-satisfied peacock and chronic flirt. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025 In the visual, Faith is in a bar singing about and to her love interest, as Thornton performs onstage, flirts, and drinks his way through the night. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Even within the bowels of Amazon, a paragon of brutal efficiency, people flirt, fantasize, find camaraderie. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025 The patties themselves — two 3-ouncers; a combo of chuck, brisket and short rib — were bold and well-seasoned and dangerously flirting with the line between meaty juiciness and greasy slipperiness. Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flirt
Noun
  • Additional charges included negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.
    Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • First degree wanton endangerment is a felony that carries between one and five years in prison if Gray is convicted.
    Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Other locations previously teased by Netflix include Little Garden, Whiskey Peak, Reverse Mountain, and Loguetown.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The New Jersey native also teased some new music on the way after some prying from Hudson.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sunlight flitted over the Pacific Ocean and into our bedroom.
    Joe Garcia, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The spaces are smaller, with lower benches, and the older players, flitting between dressing rooms for U14s and U12s, have had to take their belongings home each day rather than leave them in lockers due to the carousel of teams moving in and out.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some dart their eyes to and from the corners of the room.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
  • This time, the sophomore broke free off a quarterback keeper, then darted up the sideline for a 39-yard touchdown rush to put his team back in the lead.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And don’t be fooled by spotless sheets.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The fastball-splitter combo was working well for him again, while his 74 mph curveball was fooling hitters all night as well.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Bolas spider creates a silk lasso to catch fluttering moths.
    Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Novo Nordisk flags flutter outside their office in Bagsvaerd, on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark, July 14, 2025.
    Annika Kim Constantino,Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
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
  • During last week's episode, viewers saw Dylan dance with his little sister, Olivia, for Dedication Night on.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Soon enough, the Baxter Avenue Morgue, a Louisville haunted house that opened around the same time, reached out to interview the crew and asked them to dance.
    Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirt. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on flirt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!