flirt 1 of 4

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

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flirt

2 of 4

verb (1)

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flirt (with)

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verb (2)

as in to woo
to act so as to make (something) more likely you're flirting with death by driving so recklessly

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flirtation

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noun (2)

as in flirtatiousness
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others somehow got the bizarre notion that flirtation was appropriate during a job interview

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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
Watching Elvis interact with his musicians or flirt with his backup singers helps consolidate the impression that everyone on stage is having a blast. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026 The earliest daffodil to bloom in my Kentucky garden is ‘February Gold’ (sometimes as early as December) and the latest is ‘Pheasant Eye’ that in a cool spring can flirt with early May. Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
Rio Tinto and Glencore had held only preliminary discussions about price when they were forced to disclose their flirtation in early January, a person familiar with the matter said. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 5 Feb. 2026 Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango. Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flirt

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Cite this Entry

“Flirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirt. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.

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