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

Ms. Winger struggles to make these demure, repressive qualities come across naturally—and frankly fails.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 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

Her sweet ballads fooled many into thinking she was fragile and demure.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2025

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

One of those demure oil portraits of a lady with a book open in her lap and a lamb lying at her feet.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

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.

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

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

Finding these two in contact, the Doctors interchanged demurest glances.

From Hard Cash by Reade, Charles

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)

She was the demurest, dreamiest of the three girls; the most of a woman, and the least of a talker.

From The Old Folks' Party 1898 by Bellamy, Edward

Or who in Moscow toward the Czar With the demurest of footfalls, Over the Kremlin's pavement white With serpentine and syenite, Steps with five other generals—" "That's no good.

From Stalky & Co. by Kipling, Rudyard

Ellen was wearing her darkest, demurest clothes, in emphatic contrast to the ribbons and laces in which Brodnyx and Pedlinge usually went to the fair.

From Joanna Godden by Kaye-Smith, Sheila

Related Words

• prim
• reticent
• timid
• unassuming