1
as in girlish
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2
as in tomboyish
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Recent Examples of boyish
Trying to shed ‘nice-guy tendencies’ Jeff Whittington stands in front of the room, flashes a boyish smile, and prepares to be lambasted.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
In those pages, Fiedler dared to argue that many of America’s boyish and putatively innocent classics are in fact fantasies of interracial, homosexual romance.
—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
From beginning to end, there’s a joyfulness and a boyish innocence to IOI’s new iteration of the character, which surprised me.
—
Alex James Kane,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
And Rudd, as the happy mid-lifer who can’t help wanting a little more, is appealing in that characteristically boyish, Rudd-like way, though there’s also something deeply wistful about him.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 May 2026
Now 35 and about to embark on his 14th consecutive home Test summer, England’s greatest batter still radiates a boyish quality that no amount of stubble or crow’s feet can dim.
—
James Wallace,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
The boyish-looking Streeting, 43, is widely regarded as one of the party's best communicators and has been an outspoken voice on issues that include the war in Gaza.
—
ABC News,
17 May 2026
And yet, by the time Enzo (Diego Murgia), a kindhearted and still boyish 19-year-old, can no longer conceal what’s been brewing inside him, his reaction still lands with soul crushing force.
—
Carlos Aguilar,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
Sashko was tall, and had a distinguished bearing but a still-boyish face, and a poetic way of speaking that seemed to combine the two.
—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
In those pages, Fiedler dared to argue that many of America’s boyish and putatively innocent classics are in fact fantasies of interracial, homosexual romance.
—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
From beginning to end, there’s a joyfulness and a boyish innocence to IOI’s new iteration of the character, which surprised me.
—
Alex James Kane,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
And Rudd, as the happy mid-lifer who can’t help wanting a little more, is appealing in that characteristically boyish, Rudd-like way, though there’s also something deeply wistful about him.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 May 2026
Now 35 and about to embark on his 14th consecutive home Test summer, England’s greatest batter still radiates a boyish quality that no amount of stubble or crow’s feet can dim.
—
James Wallace,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
The boyish-looking Streeting, 43, is widely regarded as one of the party's best communicators and has been an outspoken voice on issues that include the war in Gaza.
—
ABC News,
17 May 2026
And yet, by the time Enzo (Diego Murgia), a kindhearted and still boyish 19-year-old, can no longer conceal what’s been brewing inside him, his reaction still lands with soul crushing force.
—
Carlos Aguilar,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
Sashko was tall, and had a distinguished bearing but a still-boyish face, and a poetic way of speaking that seemed to combine the two.
—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boyish
Adjective
-
Known for her breathy, sultry yet girlish vocal style, Longet achieved significant success on the record charts, beginning with her 1967 debut album, Claudine, and, to a lesser extent, the subsequent The Look of Love (1967) and Love Is Blue (1968).
-
Miho Sakoda’s Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San) managed a deft balance of girlish naiveté, true love and bitter betrayal with a soprano of apparently limitless expressivity.
Adjective
-
Embrace those tomboyish vibes with a coordinated set like Bella Hadid's powder-blue look, or give them a fashion-forward twist by pairing them with a statement top like Palmer.
-
Both those films centered on women whose grim worlds were closing in on them — a tomboyish auto mechanic in Closeness; a nurse and the frontline friend who turns on her in Beanpole.
Adjective
-
Of course, this is no tragedy — there comes a time to put away childish things, 40-something video-gamers notwithstanding — but the movie comes close to regarding it as such.
-
This one has a charming clover shape to make your space feel animated, but not childish.
Adjective
-
No amount of macho beatdowns in the UFC cage matches on the White House lawn will make anyone forget Epstein’s depredations.
-
While the two keep drinking and wait for a rare lunar event, old grievances, outrageous escapades, and macho rivalries explode to the surface.
Adjective
-
The lightweight layer keeps the outfit seasonally appropriate, while a simple tank, leather boots, and a structured leather handbag add just the right amount of edge to an otherwise girly look.
-
If your style is girly and glam, these flashy favorites might still be a great choice for you.
Cite this Entry
“Boyish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boyish. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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