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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Rio Tinto and Glencore had held only preliminary discussions about price when they were forced to disclose their flirtation in early January, a person familiar with the matter said.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.—
Sara Krolewski,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 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 15 Feb. 2026.
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