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Glite Dictionary
coquettish

coquettish

2 8.2
Acting playful and trying to attract someone's attention
  • adjective
  • /koʊˈkɛtɪʃ/
translation icon : coqueta
  • His eldest daughter was talking in a voice that was at once coquettish and demanding.
  • a coquettish smile
  • a coquettish look
  • a coquettish voice

Examples

  • Passing in front of me with a coquettish air, she entered the quiet farmhouse.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • I realized, with some concern, that this was my way of being coquettish.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • All in all, the little ships had an air that I found quite coquettish.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "Congratulations on my marriage," she said, her voice sluggish and coquettish at the same time.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • A silvery laugh, a coquettish turn of the head.

    Sleuth (1972)

  • Her lips puckered into coquettish smiles whenever she looked toward the men in the living area.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Her eyes sparkle brightly; her manner is almost coquettish.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Instinctively, no doubt because of her theatrical background, she assumes a somewhat coquettish stance.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • On that, she turns—for the first time, a coquettish look comes to her face.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • As she entered the room, she tossed her hair and flashed a coquettish smile at everyone.

Synonyms

coy
vscoquettish
24 5.4

Acting shy to seem playful or avoid answering directly

is more openly playful and aims to attract attention
flirty
vscoquettish
23 3.7

Playful actions that show romantic or sexual interest

focuses more on gaining admiration through teasing and charm
provocative
vscoquettish
  • NSFW
22 7.2

Tends to make people feel sexual interest by being suggestive

is playful and aims for admiration rather than explicit sexual arousal
flirtatious
vscoquettish
20 5.3

Showing playful romantic or sexual interest in someone

is more about seeking admiration with a playful, attention-seeking manner
kittenish
vscoquettish
1 7.3

Having a playful and slightly flirty way

is less childlike and more about attracting adult admiration
vampish
vscoquettish
  • NSFW
8.7

Acting in a sexy, flirtatious way to attract attention

is more playful and less overtly sexual when seeking attention

Antonyms

serious
452 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

sincere
239 2.5

Being honest and showing what you really feel

How Flirtatious

provocative
112 6.7
coquettish
2 8.2
teasing
2.7
playful
79 1.6

Surface Forms

coquettish positive

Morphology

coquettish = coquette (transparent) = coquette + ish

Derived from the noun 'coquette' plus the productive adjectival suffix '-ish', meaning 'having the qualities of a coquette', which is a regular and predictable formation.

Etymology

Coquettish comes from the French word coquette, a small form of coq that means 'rooster'. Imagine a 'little rooster' showing off to get attention, so coquettish means 'playfully flirtatious' or acting to attract people.