1
as in coquettish
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest
the previously demure maiden began making some surprisingly shocking remarks
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shy
not comfortable around people
hesitant and demure, she hardly spoke a word at the banquet table
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3
as in meek
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness
wore a very demure outfit to the interview for the job at the church's headquarters
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Recent Examples of demure
The actor wore a cream, silk a-line dress from the 60s, its buttoned up, rounded collar a demure giveaway of its era.
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Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
Now put on some high-heeled platform boots, sleep on your makeup, hit the dance floor and start the countdown for Brat Christmas!
'Very demure, very mindful'
Social media creator Jools Lebron posted style tips on TikTok in August that wowed the world.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2024
Coco Jones Coco Jones looked demure in a black mini dress, matching fur coat and knee-high boots.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Dry air, combined with nonstop handwashing, takes its toll, ravaging cuticles and leaving them split and peeling—a scenario that’s not cutesy, not demure, and definitely not comfortable either.
—Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demure 
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
Now put on some high-heeled platform boots, sleep on your makeup, hit the dance floor and start the countdown for Brat Christmas!
'Very demure, very mindful'
Social media creator Jools Lebron posted style tips on TikTok in August that wowed the world.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2024
Coco Jones Coco Jones looked demure in a black mini dress, matching fur coat and knee-high boots.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Dry air, combined with nonstop handwashing, takes its toll, ravaging cuticles and leaving them split and peeling—a scenario that’s not cutesy, not demure, and definitely not comfortable either.
—Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demure
Adjective
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Kassandra starts a little shy while meeting new coworkers, who wouldn’t be a little shy on their first day?Rob Gagnon, Hartford Courant, 23 Dec. 2024
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As a result, the Predators weren’t shy about confronting Crosby.Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Gary starts the film as a meek, somewhat nerdy college professor, but circumstances quickly force him into the uncomfortable position of becoming an undercover police informant.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
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Premature predictions of renewal would be foolish and, as Howe continually stressed, Newcastle cannot allow one strong outing to be followed by another meek one.Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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As joint owners, Abbey Road Studios and Bowers & Wilkins are predictably coy about what’s next, but even though details are far from forthcoming, no one at the launch event seemed ready to deny that Abbey Road Studios Mode will see service in other products sooner rather than later.Simon Lucas, WIRED, 10 Dec. 2024
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Google and its partners are being coy about details at the moment.Justine Calma, The Verge, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Introverts may become talkative, or extroverts quiet and withdrawn.Dr. Talia Varley, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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But the film doesn’t glamorize Callas, and instead portrays her as sad and withdrawn.Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Republican representing Kentucky and the party's longtime Senate leader, reflected on Carter's humble origins as a peanut farmer and member of the U.S. military before becoming president.Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 30 Dec. 2024
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The Palace of Versailles, known as château de Versailles in French, is a paragon of Baroque architecture that once served as a royal residence and the de facto capital of France—but its beginnings are far more humble.Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023
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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
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On a team of superstars, Salaam was a bashful giant, deferential and unselfish to the last.Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
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Of the three all-time men’s players who’ve dominated this era of the game—Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic—Nadal seemed to be the most bashful of the three.Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Edmunds expects only a modest increase in auto sales next year, from just under 16 million vehicles this year to 16.2 million in 2025.Cora Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
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The elder Stack had started the business as a teen in 1948 as a modest bait-and-tackle supplier in Binghamton, New York.Jemima McEvoy, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Demure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demure. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
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