as in coquetry
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others
an actress better known for her come-hither coyness than for her acting chops
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of coyness
There is her coyness about her future plans, and her own recent memoir.
—
Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
The Hunting Wives strips away any coyness about sexuality in the first three minutes of episode one.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
The Hunting Wives strips away any coyness about sexuality in the first three minutes of episode one.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coyness
Noun
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The three-inch heels that the women wear when performing the dance are visible at the bottom of the skirt—a demure bit of coquetry.—
Fernanda Pérez Sánchez,
Vogue,
8 Aug. 2022
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In other words, the most dizzying and most consequential storyline of Michigan’s offseason — Harbaugh’s coquetry with the Minnesota Vikings notwithstanding — is going to linger a while longer.—
Michael Cohen,
Detroit Free Press,
27 July 2022
Noun
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The cast’s sole survivor is Jessica Hecht, who pours miraculous warmth and complexity into her faintly insulting role as Colleen, the head teller, a morally upright spinster goosed by her flirtation with Sonny and the spotlight.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
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One of the central narratives of season ten, filmed last summer, is the ongoing flirtation between Wilson and Miller, despite Miller’s residual humiliation at the way he’d dismissed her in the press after their breakup.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Evocative animation, with subdued blue hues and soft lighting, conveys the flirtatiousness of their rapid connection in a scene where the two swim together in a pool at night.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coyness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coyness. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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