1
as in coquettish
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest the previously demure maiden began making some surprisingly shocking remarks

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2
3
as in meek
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness wore a very demure outfit to the interview for the job at the church's headquarters

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Examples 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 demure Dry air, combined with nonstop handwashing, takes its toll, ravaging cuticles and leaving them split and peeling—a scenario that’s not cutesy, not demure, and definitely not comfortable either. Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 6 Dec. 2024 Over on TikTok, the company touted that its users were very interested in being demure, very into Moo Deng. Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024 This year, 37,000 people voted on six terms: brain rot, demure, dynamic pricing, lore, romantasy, and slop. Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 2 Dec. 2024 Positioned as a modern debutante ball that places emphasis on individuality and sartorial self-expression, just over 20 young women from all around the world participate—no stiff white dresses and demure gloves here! Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 1 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for demure 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demure
Adjective
  • In its third-quarter earnings report in October, Tesla reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 8%, which fell just shy of estimates.
    Lora Kolodny,Ari Levy, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Billy Wagner, who finished five votes shy of entering the Hall, also returns to the ballot this year.
    Scott Thompson, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Tucci, a reassuring screen presence for more than three decades, is casually excellent as the iconoclastic Bellini, wisely downplaying his character’s physicality in favor of meek conviction.
    Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024
  • Instead, Amy Adams, whose performance as a meek nun in Doubt was her second Oscar nomination after Junebug, reaps that windfall and wins her Oscar nice and early in her career.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The intimate, coy conversations that Powers has with Mitchell’s collaborators, friends and lovers read like phone calls that the author might have had with her own high school buds.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The firm is cautious to coy about its future plans.
    Barnet Sherman, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But the film doesn’t glamorize Callas, and instead portrays her as sad and withdrawn.
    Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Think of how the finale opening dwells on Georgie never getting a handshake this season — Paul left her hanging twice with an extended, and then a withdrawn, hand!
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Chapter 1: The Rise of Scribe Media Scribe Media started in 2014 as the humbler, niche-sounding Book in a Box.
    Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Foxx's work ethic can be traced back to her humble beginning in Avery County, North Carolina, in Appalachia.
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023
  • With a basis of flawless skin—smoothing and hydration offered via Kylie Skin Face Moisturizer and Eye Cream—Phillips pulled a thick wing of black liner along Jenner's lids, a diminutive wing beneath the lower lashline providing a kittenish complement.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2021
Adjective
  • On a team of superstars, Salaam was a bashful giant, deferential and unselfish to the last.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Of the three all-time men’s players who’ve dominated this era of the game—Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic—Nadal seemed to be the most bashful of the three.
    Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Kittle noted that Samuel’s modest stat line against Chicago wasn’t due to a lack of effort but because of scheme.
    Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Macquarie's latest estimates are for demand to slow from an earlier forecast of 3.4% a year to 2.4% while supply is also expected to slip, though the supply fall from 5.4% to 4% will still leave the copper market in modest surplus.
    Tim Treadgold, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

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“Demure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demure. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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