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
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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
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Recent Examples of flirting
See if cornerback Jalen Ramsey’s timeline matches that of the Steelers after flirting with the possibility of a reunion last spring.
—
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell more than 10% Thursday alone and is now down about 20% this week — a sharp reversal from last fall, when bitcoin was flirting with record highs and optimism around crypto was everywhere.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
He's spent the last three seasons flirting and dodging anything serious, but season 4 finally gives him his own love story.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
There was a lot of flirting and smiling going on.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
For that reason, the dances were designed to let these young people get a good look at one another, mix with as many partners as possible and maybe enjoy some conversation and flirting while on the dance floor.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
To cope, he’s turned to free-diving, flirting with the void by diving into caves off the coasts of Okinawa and Marseille.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Max and Cathy couldn’t find the right time to talk, and Kizzi and Joe are flirting everywhere.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Speaking of billionaires, California is flirting with a wealth tax that has some of its richest residents fuming and others threatening to pull up stakes.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell more than 10% Thursday alone and is now down about 20% this week — a sharp reversal from last fall, when bitcoin was flirting with record highs and optimism around crypto was everywhere.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
He's spent the last three seasons flirting and dodging anything serious, but season 4 finally gives him his own love story.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
There was a lot of flirting and smiling going on.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
For that reason, the dances were designed to let these young people get a good look at one another, mix with as many partners as possible and maybe enjoy some conversation and flirting while on the dance floor.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
To cope, he’s turned to free-diving, flirting with the void by diving into caves off the coasts of Okinawa and Marseille.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Max and Cathy couldn’t find the right time to talk, and Kizzi and Joe are flirting everywhere.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Speaking of billionaires, California is flirting with a wealth tax that has some of its richest residents fuming and others threatening to pull up stakes.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flirting
Verb
-
OpenAI has been teasing the introduction of ads for weeks.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Dunkin' has been teasing the Big Game ad for some time.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tracking each bear over the ice with helicopters and periodically darting them to take body measurements on the ground, the researchers were able to estimate the animals’ overall physical health—a metric called body condition index, or BCI.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Chirring insects, cool eels, darting dice snakes in the Volga delta.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Here’s what to do to get rid of pesky moths flitting around indoors.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Men have been doing it for decades, flitting between the low-brow and the high-brow without losing any of their Serious Actor sheen in the process.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the early swooning over Newsom suggests, some voters’ hearts are fluttering over the prospect of his candidacy.—
Bret Stephens,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
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That’s the end result of an odd, hilarious scene that took place during the first period at UBS Arena, when Islanders forward Bo Horvat went to play a puck behind the Pittsburgh net and was joined by a small bird that was fluttering near the ice surface.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, depth would only get in the way of the plot, which is primarily concerned with fooling you and fooling you again.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Watching Bedard break ankles on a nightly basis like Allen Iverson on skates, attempting one-man rushes most players couldn’t even fathom, fooling elite goaltenders with his patented drag-and-drive release, is exhilarating.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To mark the third anniversary of his death, Holker in December shared clips of the pair dancing together and photos of them with their children.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Whether at Artistic Edge Dance Centre in Hartland or on a competition stage, Jay Ramos-Rivera is constantly dancing.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Literally toxic lesbians — kidding.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
-
Just kidding - but honestly not sold on him being the best player on a championship caliber team.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Alijah Arenas switched between his forehand shot and backhand, flicking the plastic ball over the net to his opponent, former NBA star Brandon Jennings.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
-
While the horses were flicking sand like fireworks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flirting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirting. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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