flirt 1 of 2

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

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
Casey Wasserman flirt-emailed with Jeffrey Epstein’s co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2003. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026 The protagonist of A Love Story is a lover boy, a libertine, a gossip, a flirt. The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
Verb
And even though the May weather outside is starting to flirt with summer temperatures, she is completely covered. Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026 That dispiriting news, coupled with consumer sentiment plunging to the lowest point ever recorded, should be enough to set off alarm bells and trigger talk of the economy flirting with recession. Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for flirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flirt
Noun
  • Many critics of such wanton cosmic acquisitiveness balk at the idea of scarcely regulated private-sector lunar strip-mining.
    Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
  • Additional charges included negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.
    Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • All the thespian’s chemistry felt less like castmates promoting a production and more like siblings teasing one another out of deep affection.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 May 2026
  • Rumors are flying that Google will unveil or tease its Gemini 4 AI model — and that's a big deal because the introduction of Gemini 3 in November was a huge success and sent shares rallying .
    Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • Early mornings at Mukwa are quiet, with mist rising off the river and birds flitting along the river bank.
    Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
  • Their father, Nahuel (Amién), flits from one romantic affair to another, failing to recognize his shortcomings the way fathers typically forget minor yet significant details, like mistaking his younger daughter’s shoe size or never delivering on his promise to have the sink fixed.
    Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Four years later — after the Broncos had toyed unsuccessfully with finding his replacement — Morton teamed with a new coach, his former Cowboys teammate Dan Reeves.
    Pat Graham, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026
  • Four years later — and after the Broncos had toyed unsuccessfully with finding his replacement — Morton teamed with a new coach, his former Cowboys teammate Dan Reeves.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Harvey Barnes interjected and darted forward, crossing for Nick Woltemade, but West Ham were playing at 33rpm to Newcastle’s 45.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • National Bureau of Investigation agents tried to serve the ICC arrest warrant, but dela Rosa darted toward a narrow stairway into the Senate plenary hall and sought the help of allied senators, who took him into protective custody.
    Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Don’t be fooled into thinking napkin rings aren’t noticed.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
  • But this case shows how quickly a 401(k) can become a target when someone has enough personal information to fool a call center or reset account access.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • Xi and a line-up of his top officials shook hands with the Russian president, before the relaxed-looking leaders stood shoulder to shoulder during a gun salute, while a military band played and Russian and Chinese flags fluttered in the background.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
  • As of Wednesday, the flags of the 48 nations competing in the World Cup began fluttering, crisscrossed above the plaza at Crown Center.
    Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • Meanwhile, that global temperature record that DiCaprio mentioned in his acceptance speech in 2016 seems almost trifling compared to what has happened since.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Flirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirt. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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