coquettish
/kou'ketiʃ/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Behaving in a flirtatious or playfully alluring manner: "coquettish" describes a person, typically a woman, who acts in a way intended to attract attention or admiration in a charming, teasing, and often superficial way.
- Suggestive of playful flirtation: It can also describe an action, gesture, or expression that has a flirtatious quality.
Usage
- The adjective "coquettish" is used to describe behavior or appearance. It often carries a slightly playful or lighthearted connotation but can sometimes imply insincerity or calculation.
- It is typically applied to people, especially their mannerisms, smiles, or glances.
Examples
- She gave him a coquettish smile from across the room.
- Her coquettish behavior at the party attracted several admirers.
- He found her coquettish manner charming, if a bit obvious.
Advanced Usage
- "coquettishly" (adverb): In a coquettish manner.
- She tilted her head coquettishly.
- The term can be used metaphorically to describe non-human subjects that seem to exhibit a playful, enticing quality.
- The kitten batted at the string with a coquettish air.
Variants and Related Words
- Coquette (noun): A woman who flirts lightheartedly with men to win their admiration and affection.
- She was known as a coquette in her youth.
- Coquetry (noun): Flirtatious behavior or acts.
- Her coquetry was both admired and criticized.
Synonyms
- Flirtatious: Behaving in a way that shows a playful sexual attraction.
- Kittenish: Playfully flirtatious or coy.
- Coy: Making a pretence of shyness or modesty, which can be flirtatious.
Antonyms
- Demure: Reserved, modest, and shy.
- Bashful: Reluctant to draw attention to oneself; shy.
Idioms and Phrases
- While there is no common idiom using "coquettish" itself, the related noun "coquette" appears in literary descriptions of flirtatious behavior.
Adjective
-
like a coquette
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