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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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as in withdrawn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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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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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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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
And earlier this year, eBay built a service for camera-shy sellers to hire livestream hosts. — Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026 The Southeastern Conference has nine teams ranked, the most of any league and one shy of last season’s preseason record. — Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
Rob Zombie has never been one to shy away from dramatic, unusual spaces. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026 The shift may be seen as a win for MAHA leaders who have worked to build support in the administration to not shy away from the issue. — Daniel Payne, STAT, 10 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
  • 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
  • Which is to say quality constraints on what Paramount could conceivably dump into theaters are totally lacking.
    — Chris Lee, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of lacking
Adjective
  • Local media reported that the executions took place in the notorious Qarnada military prison in the northeastern town of Shahat, and that their families were notified to receive their bodies from a hospital in the city of Benghazi.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In a country where men dominate positions of power in business and government, boozy business dinners are notorious for putting female employees in risky positions.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 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
  • 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
  • Cran-raspberry juice, pink lemonade concentrate, and grenadine provide its blush and bashful hue, while passionfruit juice cocktail gives it tropical flavors.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 25 July 2026
Definition of bashful
Adjective
  • Achane will also go from a QB with one of the league’s highest checkdown rates to a QB with one of the lowest.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • This week, Australian biotechnology company Mesolab announced that its Phase 3 trial of rexlemestrocel-L for chronic low back pain (CLBP) now moves beyond the patient-treatment stage.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Your guide will teach you about the origins of Prohibition and tell stories of infamous bootleggers.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Since that infamous year, homicide deaths, for the most part, have slowly decreased, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER data.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 21 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 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shy

Nglish: Translation of shy for Spanish Speakers

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