demure

American  

[dih-myoor] / dɪˈmjʊər /

adjective

demurer, demurest

1. characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved.

   Synonyms:

   retiring

   Antonyms:

   indecorous

2. affectedly or coyly decorous, sober, or sedate.

   Antonyms:

   indecorous

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demure British  

/ dɪˈmjʊə /

adjective

1. sedate; decorous; reserved

2. affectedly modest or prim; coy

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Synonym Usage

See modest.

Other Word Forms

• demureness
  noun
• undemureness
  noun
• undemure
  adjective
• demurely
  adverb
• undemurely
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of demure

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dem(e)ur(e) “well-mannered, grave,” from Anglo-French demuré, past participle of demurer “to demur”; perhaps influenced by Old French mur, mëur “grave, mature” (from Latin matūrus ); see origin at demur

Explanation

A demure person can be described as polite and a little shy. A demure outfit is a modest one — think high neckline and low hem. Demure is a word you don't hear a lot these days, but it used to be a huge compliment for a woman or a girl, for them to be considered shy and quiet and modest. The word demure comes from an French term that means "sober, grave, or serious."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demure demurer demurest

Years ago, the shy, demure White House chief of staff suggested to President Obama that America “should never let a good crisis go to waste.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

Others opt for the registry office and a demure lunch with close friends, and prefer to save their money for a house.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 25, 2025

One of them was very demure and mindful - think soft pastels, pussy bow blouses and pleats - as demonstrated by Chanel and Balenciaga.

From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2024

In “The Penguin” Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone marks her transition from the dutiful mobster’s demure daughter to a siren afire with vengeance.

From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2024

In the space of half a step, she transformed her delighted headlong run into a demure greeting at arm’s length.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Of course, if they be still exuberant, they may show it, and stamp their lustiest; still a demurer step will usually suggest itself as the more appropriate.

From The Morris Book, Part 1 A History of Morris Dancing, With a Description of Eleven Dances as Performed by the Morris-Men of England by Sharp, Cecil J.

Cicely, six months younger, was much more quiet and steady on the surface, though her twinkling brown eyes belied her demurer manners, and proclaimed her ready for anything in the shape of fun.

From The Manor House School by Dixon, Arthur A.

She bowed to him, and passed on in her grave and stately manner: more calmly observant, demurer eyes were not in the Park.

From Sunrise by Black, William

And you have seen a cat conscious of approaching cream: such was Miss Haythorn; she became demurer and demurer.

From Stories by English Authors: England by Hardy, Thomas

Mrs. Owen's family, the Singletons, had crossed the Ohio into Hoosier territory along in the fifties, in time for Sally to have been a student—not the demurest from all accounts—at Indiana Female College.

From A Hoosier Chronicle by Yohn, F. C. (Frederick Coffay)

Georgiana stayed behind a minute to compose her face and manner, then went in, the demurest of young housewives.

From Under the Country Sky by Rogers, Frances

For the same cause there were risings at Caistor and Horncastle—two of the demurest of modern towns.

From The Romantic Story of the Mayflower Pilgrims And Its Place in the Life of To-day by Addison, Albert Christopher

When he honored me with a call he looked the demurest young saint, and I laughed till I got the lockjaw at his earnest and spiritual discourse.

From Satires And Profanities by Foote, G. W. (George William)

"And backward yode, as bargemen wont to fare Bending their force contrary to their face Like that ungracious crew which faines demurest grace."

From Great Ralegh by Selincourt, Hugh de

Related Words

• prim
• reticent
• timid
• unassuming