FLIRTING Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

flirting

verb

present participle of flirt

as in teasing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in darting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 flirting The victim also allegedly told a DOC lieutenant that Cruz would give her candy and that the two began flirting with each other in February 2025. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026 Elsewhere in the interview, Nader got candid about her flirting. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 10 Sep. 2026 However, crew members described a change in mood when Simpson began flirting with the actors. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 Still, partners should communicate about when flirting feels appropriate, DeSeta added. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026 Your new friend crossed a clear line by flirting with someone from your friend group who was obviously seeing another member of the group. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2026 Companies that liked to play it safe were willing to take on the far right-flirting Musk. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 And, with this year’s Angels flirting with the first 100-loss season in franchise history, are the Angels going to be much better next year? — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 A number of the state’s local school systems are in financial straits, with some — such as Sacramento City Unified — flirting with insolvency. — Dan Walters, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flirting

Verb

Robert Eggers is teasing his take on William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026
Social media and YouTube posts cryptically teasing that date popped up this week.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of teasing

Verb

Thank you to the San Francisco Zoo for their expertise darting the lion and documenting the scene.

— Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
One TikTok of the scrappy piggy dodging cars and darting between would-be animal rescuers’ legs racked up nearly a half million views.

— Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of darting

Verb

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
The age-gap romance is one that Statsky said the writers have been toying around with for quite some time.

— Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026

Definition of toying

Verb

Upon further review of the camera footage, Sam Gough, a park supervisor for the Incline Village General Improvement District, said the light appeared to be just a bug flitting across the lens.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
An airy, not-too-sweet vanilla like Taunt is the perfect encapsulation of a Gemini who’s always flitting from one topic of interest to the next.

— Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 14 July 2026

Definition of flitting

Verb

In the highlight, Marshall retrieves the ball and oddly fires it back to the infield, fooling no one.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Anybody hoping that a Netanyahu defeat in October and the emergence of a less controversial successor will reset the table is likely fooling themselves.

— Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of fooling

Verb

The dress included a long train, which trailed the actress on the arrival carpet, and was further augmented by a shoulder ornament of fabric that transitioned from fluttering waves to delicate tassels.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
Tribute upon floral tribute—their petals, leaves, and memorial cards fluttering in the gentle breeze.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of fluttering

Verb

But Guthrie wasn’t kidding, slipping into a yellow gingham dress before joining her co-hosts on the Today Show Plaza to greet visitors.

— Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Just kidding, but seeing Angela’s team sweep Shamea’s at the Bailey Bowl basketball tournament was almost as satisfying as knowing Charles got to witness his former team’s historic win in person.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 22 June 2026

Definition of kidding

Verb

But dancers take the stage too because when Cubans play music, there will assuredly be dancing.

— Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 30 Sep. 2026
Instead, everyone in the main room is dancing under a glistening disco ball to the syncopations of Riva, a three-piece comprised of a psychedelic saxophonist, drummer and keyboardist.

— Mary Carreon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of dancing

Cite this Entry

Style

“Flirting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirting. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of flirting

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perseverate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes