flirt 1 of 4

as in wanton
a person who playfully shows another amorous attention he's just a harmless flirt, so don't take him seriously

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flirt

2 of 4

verb (1)

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

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2
as in to flit
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements lazily watched the butterflies flirting among the wildflowers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flirt (with)

3 of 4

verb (2)

as in to woo
to act so as to make (something) more likely you're flirting with death by driving so recklessly

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flirtation

4 of 4

noun (2)

as in flirtatiousness
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others somehow got the bizarre notion that flirtation was appropriate during a job interview

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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
Hank is a self-satisfied peacock and chronic flirt. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025 In the visual, Faith is in a bar singing about and to her love interest, as Thornton performs onstage, flirts, and drinks his way through the night. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Even within the bowels of Amazon, a paragon of brutal efficiency, people flirt, fantasize, find camaraderie. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025 The patties themselves — two 3-ouncers; a combo of chuck, brisket and short rib — were bold and well-seasoned and dangerously flirting with the line between meaty juiciness and greasy slipperiness. Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
But Logan Lerman’s Jay is so damn charming that even this confrontation turns into further flirtation almost instantly. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2025 There was a flirtation with Aaron Rodgers and a vested interest in Daniel Jones, yet both quarterbacks signed elsewhere due to the Vikings' investment in McCarthy. Trevor Squire, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flirt

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Cite this Entry

“Flirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flirt. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

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