How to Use girlish in a Sentence

girlish

adjective
  • Her clothes fit well enough, though the slacks looked girlish around the hips.
    — Ian McEwan, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022
  • The film made a kind of noble last stand for the whole idea of squeaky-clean girlish goodness.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Nov. 2022
  • It's called the orchid cuff, a name that calls to mind all things pretty, girlish and sweet.
    — Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Jan. 2012
  • With her girlish grin and short blonde hair, Rebecca looked ten years old.
    — Joni Eareckson Tada, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Their wardrobes reflected that idea by taking on a girlish spin.
    — Marlen Komar, Time, 20 Sep. 2019
  • Costa is 51 and girlish, with shoulder-length auburn hair and a wide smile.
    — Erika Hayasaki, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2017
  • Even the dignity of her request to her mother not to mourn her death seems like a girlish pose.
    — Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 8 Sep. 2017
  • Santoshi looked on, slender arms folded, a spray of girlish freckles across her nose.
    — Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2020
  • Burdea did not speak other than to answer Bell’s question in a soft, girlish voice.
    — Michael Gordon, charlotteobserver, 20 July 2017
  • Jaiani, matured, is no less magical as the still-girlish Kitri.
    — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2022
  • Some girlish giggles and a gauzy tangle of female flesh; an unlaced bodice; a puddle of lingerie.
    — John Anderson, WSJ, 10 May 2018
  • Hill’s latest look once again adds an unexpected twist to an otherwise girlish white tulle skirt.
    — Rachel Hahn, Vogue, 23 July 2018
  • And Ditlev isn’t above callously spoiling his lively, girlish wife’s moments of joy.
    — Deborah Eisenberg, The New York Review of Books, 9 Mar. 2021
  • Says Attalah in a tone that’s girlish, endearing, and almost shy.
    — Angela Lei, Forbes, 7 June 2021
  • Levy brings a deft mix of icy imperiousness and girlish yearning to Elsa.
    — Deborah Wilker, Billboard, 15 Sep. 2017
  • Circles on the Square, a donut shop, delights viewers with a happy, girlish figure wearing a bright pink dress and a huge smile.
    — Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland, 23 Sep. 2021
  • Keeler is a period curiosity, with a girlish voice and tiny feet that jackhammer the floor.
    — Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2020
  • But those giant bows, unabashedly girlish, become wing-like on the models walking down the catwalk in flowing gowns.
    — Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 Jan. 2019
  • Kateryna, pale-faced and with a girlish side-braid in her hair, even seemed to take some pleasure in it, often pulling out her phone to show a picture of this or that calamity.
    — The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2022
  • Her girlish pout, tiny waist and generous bust were often more appreciated than her talent.
    — CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
  • Lest you are left wondering who rules the hive, Rosetta sparkles in a queenly gown inlaid with bling; Marie wears a girlish peach frock.
    — Andrea Simakis, cleveland.com, 31 Jan. 2018
  • Her striped shirt recalled the styles sold at Jermyn Street shirtmakers, while the fluid trousers were an elegant and girlish foil.
    — Edward Barsamian, Vogue, 14 July 2018
  • The dresses were colorful and girlish, featuring ruffles and polka dots and florals.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2021
  • The Ctrl singer-songwriter seems to understand, though, that the real fun isn’t in just donning a girlish dress one day and a pair of sweatpants the next.
    — Rachel Hahn, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2018
  • The film's wardrobe symbolized the youthquake of the 1960s and the desire of women to dress in a childlike, girlish manner.
    — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, 27 Jan. 2015
  • The rounded aspect at the top of her dress was an exquisite touch to an already girlish presentation with the double bow additions.
    — Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 21 May 2024
  • At the waist of Deutch’s dress, a statement bow made of metallic silver beading featured, giving the dress a playful, girlish quality.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Before Rose, the only other women at the ranch are a bosomy older cook and a girlish helper, both conveniently sexless.
    — New York Times, 30 Nov. 2021
  • Elizabeth arrives, sweeping into the joint, breathlessly, on a gust of girlish ambition.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
  • In stark contrast to the phone’s E Ink deftness other parts of the Alias 2 are decidedly girlish and silly.
    — Roger Hibbert, WIRED, 15 June 2009

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

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