shy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈshī How to pronounce shy (audio)
Definition of shynext
1
as in timid
easily frightened a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people a shy person who finds talking to anyone but a close friend to be an awkward and unpleasant experience

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need the team is shy a couple of players because of illness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in notorious
not respectable she was nervous about being left alone in a shy bar in a bad section of town

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shy

2 of 2

verb

as in to flinch

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective shy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of shy are bashful, coy, diffident, and modest. While all these words mean "not inclined to be forward," shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

shy with strangers

When can bashful be used instead of shy?

The words bashful and shy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.

a bashful boy out on his first date

When might coy be a better fit than shy?

While the synonyms coy and shy are close in meaning, coy implies a pretended shyness.

put off by her coy manner

In what contexts can diffident take the place of shy?

In some situations, the words diffident and shy are roughly equivalent. However, diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking.

felt diffident about raising an objection

When could modest be used to replace shy?

The meanings of modest and shy largely overlap; however, modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.

modest about her success

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 shy
Adjective
The film follows a shy woman who is unexpectedly cast in a local production of an original musical. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 The verdict comes just a week shy of the 30th anniversary of the shooting that claimed Shakur’s life. — Charmaine Patterson, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
Scott says he’s learned not to shy away from the pain of death and Kellie pours out her heart in exquisitely tender reflections on social media. — Susan Young, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 In a pedagogical culture that tends to shy away from unpleasantness, Goodwin’s approach felt like an honest — and valuable — way of dealing with one of the ugliest aspects of American literary history. — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
  1. timid
  2. withdrawn
  3. lacking
  4. notorious
  5. flinch
  6. bashful
  7. low
  8. infamous
Adjective
  • Conversely, timid or softened feedback delivered to struggling employees creates a false sense of security, signaling that there is no urgency to adjust course.
    — Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Knight was timid, and his interview was practiced, Becker said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of timid
Adjective
  • In an era of ball-to-feet No 10s and withdrawn strikers, Welbeck stays high up the pitch, runs the channels and occupies defenders.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • The withdrawn earnings are taxed as ordinary income, the Treasury said.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Definition of withdrawn
Adjective
  • Ohio's fittest cities don't rank in the national top 25, but that doesn't mean the Buckeye State is unhealthy or lacking amenities.
    — Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Where to Stay Ely hosts a handful of hotels and motels within town limits, but true luxury accommodations are somewhat lacking.
    — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of lacking
Adjective
  • Age verifications and parental controls come with notorious loopholes.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The tariffs are notorious among economists and historians for shutting down world commerce and making the Great Depression worse.
    — Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of notorious
Verb
  • The Value Of Clarity​ Clarity is the ability to answer three questions without flinching.
    — Andrew Kokes, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The brand is often compared to Dyson, a parallel Ozener doesn’t flinch at.
    — Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of flinch
Adjective
  • The Kiwi sensibility, like the flightless kiwi bird, is funny, bashful, and a bit forlorn.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • And Jonathan is a continuing reminder that liberalism doesn’t have to be apologetic or bashful about itself.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
Definition of bashful
Adjective
  • Bonnell Bonnell isn’t the first to come to the electric off-road motorcycle arena, but its strategy is to differentiate itself through integration, adjustability and relatively low weight rather than simply trying to win the horsepower spreadsheet.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In a footnote to his dissent, Roberts wrote that the underground work on the project – which lower courts had allowed to proceed – addressed the government’s security concerns.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Broadway-loving teens will fall madly in love with this 2001 musical classic about the infamous French nightclub, its star performer Satine, and her poem-writing love Christian—Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor in two of their best roles.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
  • When the Obama Presidential Center opened in Chicago earlier this year, many people expected former President Obama’s infamous tan suit to be on display.
    — August 29, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of infamous

Phrases Containing shy

Browse Nearby Words

shut up
shy
shy (from or away from)
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Cite this Entry

“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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