SHEEPISH Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

sheepish

adjective

ˈshē-pish

Definition of sheepish

as in shy

not comfortable around people a sheepish scholar who is most comfortable when surrounded by books

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sheepish For his part, Beltran, carrying a baseball for Cepeda to sign, was sheepish. — Vahe Gregorian july 29, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026 The culprit — wearing tinted hippie glasses, a white tank top and a flower-print skirt — responded with a sheepish shrug and a smile. — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 14 June 2026 At full time, he was pushed forward by Will Hughes and Maxence Lacroix to take in the appreciation of the supporters, looking almost sheepish at the attention. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 May 2026 Sugano walked off the mound with a sheepish grin. — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sheepish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheepish

Adjective

Murders were ‘ice cold’ On the day of the murders, Sierra had joined the family on a shopping outing to Mall of the Americas to purchase a birthday gift for Daniela, who was days shy of turning 4.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
The French 10-year bond yield jumped more than 10 basis points, taking it just shy of its highest level in decades.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of shy

Adjective

Each loving gesture and bashful smile from his aspiring girlfriend Nikki is punctuated by dread, every minute tense and unnerving as her fixation slowly takes a dark turn.

— Mariam Bagdady, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
The Kiwi sensibility, like the flightless kiwi bird, is funny, bashful, and a bit forlorn.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of bashful

Adjective

Entering the weekend, the Trojans had just one win in 14 matches this season … and that lone win came in late August.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
The City Council voted 4-1 to postpone a decision on the Midas Apartments project without setting a new hearing date, with Mayor Dave Bass casting the lone dissenting vote.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of lone

Browse Nearby Words

sheepherders

sheepish

sheepishly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sheepish

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes