kittenish

adjective

kit·​ten·​ish
ˈkit-nish,
ˈki-tᵊn-ish How to pronounce kittenish (audio)
: resembling a kitten
especially : coyly playful
kittenishly adverb
kittenishness noun

Examples of kittenish in a Sentence

she couldn't see the point in being kittenish about it and decided to just ask him out
Recent Examples on the Web Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023 With a basis of flawless skin—smoothing and hydration offered via Kylie Skin Face Moisturizer and Eye Cream—Phillips pulled a thick wing of black liner along Jenner's lids, a diminutive wing beneath the lower lashline providing a kittenish complement. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2021 Seductively kittenish, Gardner lives up to her profane reputation. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2023 To this day, she’s drawn to the bruise of blue that belies the kittenish blush, the tension between the girl next door and the demimondaine, who are not so far apart, who may even be one. Susan Dominus Photographs By Joshua Kissi Styled By Ian Bradley Sasha Weiss Photographs By Collier Schorr Styled By Jay Massacret Megan O’Grady Portrait By Mickalene Thomas and Racquel Chevremont Ligaya Mishan Photographs By Tina Barney, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2021 There was much talk of the kittens, their kittenish ways. Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022 An aspiring dancer, Hawn first came into public view in the mid-’60s with a windswept blonde bob that paired perfectly with a set of kittenish flicks. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 21 July 2022 The bi-seasonal moment took the form of a kittenish cat eye, the sharp wing afforded a sunny disposition with a pressing of metallic white and yellow gold across lids, the hue more saturated at the center. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2021 Awesome that there are women who are very gentle, others who are comfortable in their skin, young women, pretty women, women who are kittenish and and radiant. Corey Seymour, Vogue, 10 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kittenish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kittenish was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near kittenish

Cite this Entry

“Kittenish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kittenish. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

kittenish

adjective
kit·​ten·​ish ˈkit-nish How to pronounce kittenish (audio)
-ᵊn-ish
: resembling a kitten
kittenishly adverb
kittenishness noun
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