1
as in teasing
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun
the servers at that restaurant flirt with all the customers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in darting
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
lazily watched the butterflies flirting among the wildflowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 flirting
This was offered as a way of talking about the Spanish capital on the whole, but it has been widely interpreted as flirting with 15-time Champions League winners Los Blancos.
—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Like Friday, when a rookie lefty was flirting with a no-hitter in the middle innings, Bennett held New York hitless until Schuemann’s two-out homer in the fifth.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
Lake Superior Court Judge Samuel Cappas sentenced a Chicago man to 76 years Thursday for gunning down a friend who was flirting with his girlfriend online.
—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Modesto will benefit from the same Delta breeze that Sacramento will, keeping temps from flirting with 100 degrees unlike Fresno.
—
Sean MacAday,
Sacbee.com,
22 June 2026
But top players slip all the time, and with what amounts to two late first-round picks, the Knicks get two opportunities to add impact players on a minimum contract — something that won’t be available on the market for a team flirting with the second apron.
—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
22 June 2026
The country is now flirting with a possible place in the Round of 32.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Maybe someone is complimenting (or flirting with you) publicly, but controlling you behind the scenes.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Miami has already been flirting with record heat.
—
Nic Merianos,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Like Friday, when a rookie lefty was flirting with a no-hitter in the middle innings, Bennett held New York hitless until Schuemann’s two-out homer in the fifth.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
Lake Superior Court Judge Samuel Cappas sentenced a Chicago man to 76 years Thursday for gunning down a friend who was flirting with his girlfriend online.
—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Modesto will benefit from the same Delta breeze that Sacramento will, keeping temps from flirting with 100 degrees unlike Fresno.
—
Sean MacAday,
Sacbee.com,
22 June 2026
But top players slip all the time, and with what amounts to two late first-round picks, the Knicks get two opportunities to add impact players on a minimum contract — something that won’t be available on the market for a team flirting with the second apron.
—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
22 June 2026
The country is now flirting with a possible place in the Round of 32.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Maybe someone is complimenting (or flirting with you) publicly, but controlling you behind the scenes.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Miami has already been flirting with record heat.
—
Nic Merianos,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flirting
Verb
-
After teasing us for a while, Volvo finally showed off the EX30 for real in 2023.
-
Nike has been teasing its forthcoming partnership with the German team throughout this World Cup.
Verb
-
Dark figures were darting through the shadows—Germans were carrying sacks and pillows to their building.
-
But then two attackers made darting runs to the near post, causing chaos in the Uzbekistan defence, the ball squirted through and eventually went in via a combination of Nematov and Abdukodir Khusanov.
Verb
-
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.
-
The age-gap romance is one that Statsky said the writers have been toying around with for quite some time.
Verb
-
Within moments, someone pointed out a starling flitting across the hazy sky.
-
The stairs bear witness to feet, flitting up and down, a whispering flood of life that has carried us forth to this day.
Verb
-
Speaking on Harvard Business School’s The Founder Mindset podcast, hosted by senior lecturer and serial entrepreneur Reza Satchu, the Shark Tank investor argued that anyone trying to balance a young company against the rest of their life is fooling themselves.
-
The other is fooling humans, particularly the dwindling number of journalists, critics, and other gatekeepers who are still capable of conferring legitimacy by paying attention.
Verb
-
But Curls Ultra aren’t solely interested in resurrecting the mysticism of the past or indulging in the parties of the present, the occasional fluttering flute solo or boisterous sax line notwithstanding.
-
Red, black and gold flags are flying from car bonnets and fluttering on balconies, especially on matchdays.
Verb
-
Just kidding, but seeing Angela’s team sweep Shamea’s at the Bailey Bowl basketball tournament was almost as satisfying as knowing Charles got to witness his former team’s historic win in person.
-
Room was kidding, but someone inside Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night had the power to make that happen.
Verb
-
Though the statement was initially shared alongside a video of the two of them dancing with their 5-year-old son, Mauz Mosley Muniz, the post was removed.
-
For years the company has pushed the frontier of what legged robots can do, taking inspiration from dancing, parkour, and gymnastics.
Cite this Entry
“Flirting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirting. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
