ˈkit-nish
as in coquettish
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest
she couldn't see the point in being kittenish about it and decided to just ask him out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 kittenish
Seductively kittenish, Gardner lives up to her profane reputation.
—
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2023
Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023
There was much talk of the kittens, their kittenish ways.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022
To this day, she’s drawn to the bruise of blue that belies the kittenish blush, the tension between the girl next door and the demimondaine, who are not so far apart, who may even be one.
—Susan Dominus Photographs By Joshua Kissi Styled By Ian Bradley Sasha Weiss Photographs By Collier Schorr Styled By Jay Massacret Megan O’Grady Portrait By Mickalene Thomas and Racquel Chevremont Ligaya Mishan Photographs By Tina Barney, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for kittenish
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2023
Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023
There was much talk of the kittens, their kittenish ways.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022
To this day, she’s drawn to the bruise of blue that belies the kittenish blush, the tension between the girl next door and the demimondaine, who are not so far apart, who may even be one.
—Susan Dominus Photographs By Joshua Kissi Styled By Ian Bradley Sasha Weiss Photographs By Collier Schorr Styled By Jay Massacret Megan O’Grady Portrait By Mickalene Thomas and Racquel Chevremont Ligaya Mishan Photographs By Tina Barney, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for kittenish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kittenish
Adjective
-
With sheer fabrics, lightweight materials, and vintage touches, Bella Hadid succumbed to the most coquettish piece of the moment.—
Teresa Romero Martínez,
Glamour,
31 May 2026
-
The desire for mental stimulation, variety and excitement is undeniable, but beneath all of the coquettish energy, something vulnerable is also starting to unfold.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s no point trying to be coy or cryptic about this stuff.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
-
Most manufacturers that have announced Wildcat Lake laptops are playing coy about pricing and availability—this is somewhat understandable, given ongoing pricing volatility and component supply shortages.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kittenish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kittenish. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
