moue
Americannoun
plural
mouesnoun
Etymology
Origin of moue
First recorded in 1845–50; from French; Old French moe; see mow 3
Explanation
A moue is a grimace you make with your lips. If you make this expression, you're usually showing distaste, petulance, or a similar emotion. Moue is also used, however, to refer to a flirtatious pout. The word moue is pronounced "moo," like the sound a cow makes, although the origin of the word has nothing to do with cows. Instead, the noun moue comes from the Middle Dutch word mouwe, which meant a protruding lip. You can make a moue of displeasure when someone steals your parking spot or give a coy moue when you're trying to get away with something. Either way, you're pouting.
Vocabulary lists containing moue
The Lingo of Body Language
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The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Scrabble: Four-Letter Words with 3 Vowels
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Harper is haunted, and Buckley conveys her anxiety with wide, darting eyes, or twisting her mouth in a moue.
From Salon • May 20, 2022
In her trademark cat-eye glasses, with her bitter-lemon moue, Hoffman, as Moth, is comedy just standing there; Harada, as Mustardseed, a warmth machine.
From New York Times • Oct. 24, 2021
Its single eye has clearly seen something no mortal eyes were meant to see, and the little moue of its mouth makes it clear that it liked it.
From Slate • Aug. 6, 2021
“I don’t know Prince Andrew,” Trump sighed with a moue, despite there being significant photographic evidence to the contrary.
From The Guardian • Dec. 3, 2019
Reznak set the head on a satin pillow at the king’s feet, then scampered away, his mouth twisted up in a moue of distaste.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
