coquettish

as in kittenish
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest an 18th-century painting of a coquettish maiden dallying with a young moonstruck gallant

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coquettish
Adjective
  • Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023
  • With a basis of flawless skin—smoothing and hydration offered via Kylie Skin Face Moisturizer and Eye Cream—Phillips pulled a thick wing of black liner along Jenner's lids, a diminutive wing beneath the lower lashline providing a kittenish complement.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2021
Adjective
  • Tim Lammers The maybe-sort of answer is the latest in the coy responses the creative collaborators have given for months.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • The Kremlin had been coy on whether the Russian president would attend the talks, with Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, sidestepping reporters’ questions on the topic.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Conversations are flirtatious and direct, so expect bold texts and spontaneous meetings.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 22 May 2025
  • This is a marvelous role for Skarsgard, who gets to play up Gustav’s self-importance and lack of accountability along with his flirtatious charm as the movie progresses.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Her sartorial strategy was clear: midi-skirts and dresses that were elegant, prim and demure, worn with headbands for a youthful earnestness.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
  • Finally, women need to call this type of vulgarity out instead of being demure!
    Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Coquettish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coquettish. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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