flirt 1 of 2

noun

Definition of flirtnext
as in wanton
a person who playfully shows another amorous attention he's just a harmless flirt, so don't take him seriously

Synonyms & Similar Words

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flirt

2 of 2

verb

ˈflərt How to pronounce flirt (audio)
1
as in to tease
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun the servers at that restaurant flirt with all the customers

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to flit
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements lazily watched the butterflies flirting among the wildflowers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb flirt differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of flirt are coquet, dally, toy, and trifle. While all these words mean "to deal with or act toward without serious purpose," flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object.

flirted with one fashionable ism after another

When is coquet a more appropriate choice than flirt?

In some situations, the words coquet and flirt are roughly equivalent. However, coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention.

companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations

When could dally be used to replace flirt?

The synonyms dally and flirt are sometimes interchangeable, but dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement.

dallying with the idea of building a boat someday

When might toy be a better fit than flirt?

Although the words toy and flirt have much in common, toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers.

a political novice toying with great issues

In what contexts can trifle take the place of flirt?

The meanings of trifle and flirt largely overlap; however, trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt.

to trifle with a lover's feelings

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 flirt
Noun
The daughter of screenwriter Arnold Manoff and Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress/director Lee Grant, Dinah Manoff played Marty Maraschino, the Pink Ladies' biggest flirt. — Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026 The hole’s narrow fairway flirts with disaster on both sides – water and super high rough. — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
Verb
Before Sunday's 7-3 win over the Rays in Game 162, the Phillies had lost four straight games and flirted with missing the postseason for the first time since the 2021 season. — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026 The report also suggested that the woman reported the accusations after learning that Cruz had been flirting with another inmate, the warrant affidavit said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flirt
  1. wanton
  2. tease
  3. flit
  4. toy
  5. dart
  6. fool
  7. flutter
  8. trifle
Noun
  • The second, while there were no victims, led to the arrest of a 15-year-old boy who was charged with 33 counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and one count of possession of a handgun by a minor.
    — Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond Ormund, the episode is meant to give a sense of the wanton destruction wreaked upon innocent civilians in the midst of war.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of wanton
Verb
  • Transitions are constant both within and between songs, most of which include an interlude or coda that teases the next track.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The live-action series, which will go into production next year, was teased with its own logo that seemed to hint at a potential connection to the SHIELD agency, and is among one of the five shows THR previously reported were in the works.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of tease
Verb
  • Zosia Mamet, Jason Schwartzman, Chris O’Dowd, Billie Lourd, and Will Price flit in and out of the picture, some trying to act as the voices of reason and others cheering on the madness.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Those yellow jackets flitted around the room like bees before the event, mingling with fundraiser attendees and big-name actors, explaining what, exactly, City Year does.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of flit
Verb
  • The wildly popular NeeDoh squishy cubes are often the go-to toy for the trend, despite warnings against heating them on the box.
    — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
  • The formula is one of those shampoos formulated for a really great wash—delivering moisture and smoothing without toying too far into volumizing, densifying, or hair growth.
    — Ellie Davis, Vogue, 25 June 2026
Definition of toy
Verb
  • The sheriff's office says Loki darted towards this large bush not far from the house.
    — Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • On Thursday night, the Falcons saw Bowman dart around the field, throw his body into ball carriers and get his hands on passes.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of dart
Verb
  • In April 1943, Operation Mincemeat used a corpse carrying fake invasion plans to fool Hitler into thinking the Allies would strike Greece rather than Sicily.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • But don’t be fooled by the fluidity, the tablet itself isn’t paper (or even E Ink).
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of fool
Verb
  • But no sooner did the words leave his mouth than the man’s eyelids fluttered open.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Of course, her arms matched the uninterrupted movement of her hair, fluttering in front of the cameras.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of flutter
Verb
  • In the mid-19th century, the question was of trifling interest to mapmakers, who had far more than four colors at their disposal and saw no particular reason to restrict their palette.
    — Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But that still left the less-than-trifling matter of the second tier’s title to settle, as the teams were locked together on 97 points with one game still to play.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Definition of trifle

Phrases Containing flirt

Browse Nearby Words

flips (out)
flirt
flirtation
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Cite this Entry

“Flirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirt. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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