FLIRT Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

flirt 1 of 2

noun

Definition of flirt

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

ˈflərt

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

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

The hole’s narrow fairway flirts with disaster on both sides – water and super high rough. — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026 Sliding effortlessly from incisive observer to chaotic flirt to exhausting narcissist, Firstman is never not in on the joke. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 May 2026

Verb

Parton’s version of glamour wasn’t afraid to flirt with bad taste. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 In the 1974 song, Parton sings about a woman flirting with her man. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flirt

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flirt

Noun

The second, while there were no victims, led to the arrest of a 15-year-old boy who was charged with 33 counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and one count of possession of a handgun by a minor.

— Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Aug. 2026
Beyond Ormund, the episode is meant to give a sense of the wanton destruction wreaked upon innocent civilians in the midst of war.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of wanton

Verb

The Belgian talent’s move to dress Kidman for the premiere is the latest in a string of designers who have opted to tease their vision at a new fashion house through red carpet appearances ahead of the official reveal.

— Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
At the time, Earle only teased her potential response to Cooper, but has publicly remained mostly silent about the conflict until now.

— Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of tease

Verb

Behold the plight of the Ryan Murphy character, cursed to behave nonsensically and flit wildly from plotline to plotline based on the writer’s whims.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
City juggled negotiations with Gakpo and Ndiaye in the past seven days, enabling them to flit between the two depending on who was most desired or, in the event, most realistic.

— Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of flit

Verb

The wildly popular NeeDoh squishy cubes are often the go-to toy for the trend, despite warnings against heating them on the box.

— Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
The formula is one of those shampoos formulated for a really great wash—delivering moisture and smoothing without toying too far into volumizing, densifying, or hair growth.

— Ellie Davis, Vogue, 25 June 2026

Definition of toy

Verb

Nix darted to his right at the snap as Harvey ran a flat route toward the front pylon.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
In no particular order, Elsinore darts in and out of various phases of Charleson’s life during this period, but Stone manages the tonal balance expertly.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of dart

Verb

The film is based on the real-life Operation Fortitude, an Allied military deception designed to fool Nazi Germany about the true location of the D-Day landing in 1944.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Sebastian Galeano fools the Lake Mary defense by carrying it himself and scampers 40 yards for the touchdown.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of fool

Verb

At Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, nature lovers can watch monarch butterflies flutter through the eucalyptus trees from November to February.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Iridescent peacock feathers showcase these dynamics, as well as the thousands of butterflies that flutter throughout Dollywood every year.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of flutter

Verb

But that still left the less-than-trifling matter of the second tier’s title to settle, as the teams were locked together on 97 points with one game still to play.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Meanwhile, that global temperature record that DiCaprio mentioned in his acceptance speech in 2016 seems almost trifling compared to what has happened since.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026

Definition of trifle

Cite this Entry

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“Flirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirt. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of flirt

noun

verb

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More from Merriam-Webster

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