as in masculine
having qualities or traits that are traditionally considered inappropriate for a girl or woman
a designer whose eclectic spring line paired hoydenish work boots with frilly skirts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoydenish
Adjective
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Despite denim enthusiasts often being drawn to traditionally masculine iconography—such as the Wild West, cowboys, and Hollywood rebels like Marlon Brando and James Dean—what truly defines the subculture is a deep appreciation for nostalgia, freedom, and self-expression.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
18 Feb. 2026 -
Of the current slate, only Memory of a Killer is in the masculine thriller genre in the tradition of signature Fox shows like 24 and Prison Break.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That would have been unladylike.—
Lucy Worsley
September 16,
Literary Hub,
16 Sep. 2025
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The new girl’s unladylike bravado ensures that she will be asked to board with the Brown girl.—
Chris Bohjalian,
Washington Post,
17 Aug. 2023
Adjective
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Women fighting for the right to vote were seen by their detractors as unfeminine, and vinegar valentines were a cheap and convenient medium to enforce gender roles.—
Melissa Chan,
Fortune,
14 Feb. 2026
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Dior’s collection referenced the H-line created by its founder Christian Dior for Fall-Winter 1954-1955 – a controversial silhouette at the time as its flattened shape appeared, for some, unfeminine.—
Alice Pfeiffer,
CNN,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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From the colorful, floppy hairstyles of Korean boy band Stray Kids, or the non-binary wardrobes of trailblazing singers like G-Dragon of Big Bang and Seonghwa of ATEEZ, K-pop’s male idols have long fostered diverse expressions of masculinity.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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There were reports that a male passenger on Flight 2557 from Houston's Hobby Airport to Atlanta had tried to break into the cockpit, but that wasn't the case, Delta Air Lines said in a statement.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hoydenish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoydenish. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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