demure
dih-MYOOR
/dɪˈmjʊər/
Reserved, modest, and shy, often in a quiet, decorous, or polite manner.
Connotes proper behavioral restraint, mild composure, and quiet charm; sometimes used playfully to describe calculated coyness.
The story behind the word. In Anglo-Norman French, 'demurer' meant to stay still or linger thoughtfully. By the late 14th century, English borrowed the word to describe someone who possessed mature composure, sober dignity, and quiet restraint, eventually settling into its modern sense of bashful modesty.
Word relationships
- prim: Prim implies formal and stiff propriety, whereas demure suggests a gentle, quiet bashfulness.
- sedate: Sedate means calm, slow, and dignified, while demure emphasizes modest restraint in presentation.
- brash: Brash means self-assertive, loud, and lacking respect.
- flamboyant: Flamboyant refers to striking, showy, and colorful behavior or appearance.
Commonly confused with
- demur: 'Demur' (verb) means to raise doubts or objections, while 'demure' (adjective) means modest and reserved.
Word family
- demureness (noun): The quality of being demure.
- demurely (adverb): In a demure or modest manner.
Collocations
- demure smile
- demure outfit
- demure look
- demure silence
Example sentences
- "She gave a demure smile and lowered her eyes, refusing to boast about her stunning victory." Novel excerpt
- "In contrast to her energetic stage presence, offstage she was extraordinarily demure and soft-spoken." Cultural commentary
Memory hook
DEMURE sounds like MATURE and DEMUR (hesitate); a demure person hesitates to show off. Demure is quiet, calm, and mature.
When not to use
Do not use to describe robust, assertive leadership or loud, boisterous enthusiasm.
Fun facts
- In the 2020s, 'very demure, very mindful' became a massive viral internet catchphrase used humorously to celebrate understated elegance.
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