shy

1 of 5

adjective

ˈshī

shier or shyer ˈshī(-ə)r How to pronounce shy (audio)

; shiest or shyest ˈshī-əst How to pronounce shy (audio)

: easily frightened : timid

: disposed to avoid a person or thing

publicity shy

: hesitant in committing oneself : circumspect

: sensitively diffident or retiring : reserved

also : expressive of such a state or nature

a shy smile

: secluded, hidden

: having less than the full or specified amount or number : short

just shy of six feet tall

: disreputable

gambling hells and shy saloons

Blackwood's

shyly adverb

shyness noun

shy

2 of 5

verb (1)

shied; shying

intransitive verb

: to develop or show a dislike or distaste

—usually used with from or away from

an author who shies away from publicity

: to start suddenly aside through fright or alarm

shy

3 of 5

noun (1)

plural shies

: a sudden start aside (as from fright)

shy

4 of 5

verb (2)

shied; shying

intransitive verb

: to make a sudden throw

transitive verb

: to throw (an object) with a jerk : fling

shy

5 of 5

noun (2)

plural shies

: the act of shying : toss, throw

: a verbal fling or attack

: cockshy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English schey, going back to Old English scēoh, going back to West Germanic *skeuh(w)a- (whence also Middle High German schiehe, schiech "timid, despondent," and, with alteration or variant ablaut, Middle Dutch scu, scouw "timid"), perhaps extended form of Indo-European *(s)keu̯(H)- "perceive, watch" — more at show entry 1

Verb (1)

derivative of shy entry 1

Noun (1)

derivative of shy entry 2

Verb (2)

of obscure origin

Noun (2)

derivative of shy entry 4

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1791, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1787, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈshī

shier or shyer; shiest or shyest

: not feeling comfortable meeting and talking to people

a shy awkward boy

: easily frightened : timid

a shy kitten

: showing a dislike of attention

a shy face

: tending to avoid something or someone

I'm camera shy. Don't take my picture.

: having less than a full or an expected amount or number

We were shy about ten dollars.

shy

2 of 2

verb

shied; shying

: to avoid or draw back in dislike or distaste

He shied from publicity.

: to move quickly to one side in fright

The horse shied at the thunder.

shy 1 of 2

adjective

as in timid

easily frightened a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

timid
fearful
scary
scared
afraid
timorous
terrified
mousy
yellow
fainthearted
skittish
mousey
startled
tremulous
fearsome
anxious
panicked
apprehensive
cowardly
nervous
craven
alarmed
pusillanimous
gutless
chicken
spooked
unheroic
shocked
jumpy
horrified
dastardly
spineless
jittery
panicky
poltroon
spooky
chickenhearted
milk-livered
terrorized
lily-livered
unnerved
chicken-livered
panic-stricken

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

daring
adventurous
bold
brave
confident
courageous
audacious
gutsy
hardy
fearless
adventuresome
venturesome
dashing
heroic
venturous
gallant
dauntless
undaunted
intrepid
stout
valiant
stalwart
valorous
heroical
stouthearted
assured
resolute
spirited
determined
unflinching
firm
plucky
lionhearted
self-confident
greathearted
spunky
undeterred
self-assured
doughty
unswerving
game
mettlesome

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

withdrawn
bashful
diffident
introverted
lone
coy
retiring
sheepish
modest
demure
reserved
embarrassed
backward
self-effacing
recessive
awkward
antisocial
unsociable
unassertive
unsocial
uneasy
uptight
inhibited
unadventurous
self-conscious
unenterprising
lone-wolf

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

outgoing
extroverted
immodest
gregarious
extraverted
sociable
social
companionable
convivial
forceful
bold
dashing
uninhibited
boon
brash
clubbable
forward
unreserved
clubable
overbold

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

lacking
low
scarce
short
inadequate
insufficient
wanting
deficient
stingy
unacceptable
sparse
slender
lean
mere
unsatisfactory
small
skimpy
poor
light
meager
minimum
spare
scant
slim
bare
scanty
slight
niggardly
substandard
meagre
skimp
hand-to-mouth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

enough
generous
adequate
sufficient
liberal
abundant
ample
plentiful
copious
bountiful
bounteous
enlarged
plenteous
satisfactory
large
big
super
plenitudinous
supplemented
rich
tolerable
overflowing
expanded
teeming
considerable
substantial
lavish
sizeable
hefty
oversized
sizable
abounding
oversize
luxuriant
largish
jumbo
king-sized
king-size

as in notorious

not respectable she was nervous about being left alone in a shy bar in a bad section of town

Synonyms & Similar Words

notorious
infamous
shady
shameful
criminal
low
discreditable
bad
immoral
disgraceful
disreputable
dishonorable
dirty
ignominious
louche
opprobrious
unrespectable
shoddy
vicious
wrong
mean
miserable
wicked
contemptible
loose
sinful
sordid
unethical
corrupt
evil
vile
villainous
detestable
unsavory
dissolute
seamy
perverted
despicable
base
rotten
censurable
libertine
nefarious
depraved
wretched
iniquitous
blamable
debauched
blameworthy
inglorious
unrighteous
degenerate
gamy
reprehensible
reprobate
debased
gamey

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

respectable
just
honest
honorable
good
noble
decent
moral
righteous
reputable
upright
ethical
permitted
respected
prestigious
permissible
legal
esteemed
reputed
authorized
correct
licensed
clean
proper
approved
endorsed
principled
decorous
upstanding
creditable
exemplary
commendable
blameless
seemly
sanctioned
indorsed
guiltless

shy

2 of 2

verb

as in to flinch

Synonyms & Similar Words

flinch
shrink
start
recoil
wince
quail
blench

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cuddle
nuzzle
nestle
crouch
snoozle
snuggle
huddle
curl up

Synonym Chooser

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

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

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

put off by her coy manner

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

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

modest about her success

单词	shy
释义	shy 1 of 5 adjective ˈshī shier or shyer ˈshī(-ə)r ; shiest or shyest ˈshī-əst 1 : easily frightened : timid 2 : disposed to avoid a person or thing publicity shy 3 : hesitant in committing oneself : circumspect 4 : sensitively diffident or retiring : reserved also : expressive of such a state or nature a shy smile 5 : secluded, hidden 6 : having less than the full or specified amount or number : short just shy of six feet tall 7 : disreputable gambling hells and shy saloons Blackwood's shyly adverb shyness noun shy 2 of 5 verb (1) shied; shying intransitive verb 1 : to develop or show a dislike or distaste —usually used with from or away from an author who shies away from publicity 2 : to start suddenly aside through fright or alarm shy 3 of 5 noun (1) plural shies : a sudden start aside (as from fright) shy 4 of 5 verb (2) shied; shying intransitive verb : to make a sudden throw transitive verb : to throw (an object) with a jerk : fling shy 5 of 5 noun (2) plural shies 1 : the act of shying : toss, throw 2 : a verbal fling or attack 3 : cockshy Synonyms Adjective fainthearted fearful fearsome mousy mousey scary skittish timid timorous tremulous See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective I was painfully shy as a teenager. She was too shy to ask for help. He gave her a shy smile. Help yourself if you want more. Don't be shy. Word History Etymology Adjective Middle English schey, going back to Old English scēoh, going back to West Germanic skeuh(w)a- (whence also Middle High German schiehe, schiech* "timid, despondent," and, with alteration or variant ablaut, Middle Dutch scu, scouw "timid"), perhaps extended form of Indo-European (s)keu̯(H)- "perceive, watch" — more at show entry 1 Verb (1) derivative of shy entry 1 Noun (1) derivative of shy entry 2 Verb (2) of obscure origin Noun (2) derivative of shy entry 4 First Known Use Adjective before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb (1) 1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (1) 1791, in the meaning defined above Verb (2) 1787, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense Noun (2) 1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing shy* once bitten, twice shy shy bladder shy (away) from work-shy coconut shy gun-shy shy bladder syndrome fight shy of once bitten, twice shy shy bladder shy (away) from work-shy coconut shy gun-shy shy bladder syndrome fight shy of See More Kids Definition shy 1 of 2 adjective ˈshī shier or shyer; shiest or shyest 1 : not feeling comfortable meeting and talking to people a shy awkward boy 2 : easily frightened : timid a shy kitten 3 : showing a dislike of attention a shy face 4 : tending to avoid something or someone I'm camera shy. Don't take my picture. 5 : having less than a full or an expected amount or number We were shy about ten dollars. shy 2 of 2 verb shied; shying 1 : to avoid or draw back in dislike or distaste He shied from publicity. 2 : to move quickly to one side in fright The horse shied at the thunder. Choose the Right Synonym for shy Adjective shy and bashful mean feeling awkward around others. shy is used of someone who doesn't want to meet or talk with people either by habit or for special reasons. New students are often shy. bashful is used of someone who is shy and afraid like a very young child. He was too bashful to ask for a dance. shy 1 of 2 adjective 1 as in timid easily frightened a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance timid fearful scary scared afraid timorous terrified mousy yellow fainthearted skittish mousey startled tremulous fearsome anxious panicked apprehensive cowardly nervous craven alarmed pusillanimous gutless chicken spooked unheroic shocked jumpy horrified dastardly spineless jittery panicky poltroon spooky chickenhearted milk-livered terrorized lily-livered unnerved chicken-livered panic-stricken Antonyms & Near Antonyms daring adventurous bold brave confident courageous audacious gutsy hardy fearless adventuresome venturesome dashing heroic venturous gallant dauntless undaunted intrepid stout valiant stalwart valorous heroical stouthearted assured resolute spirited determined unflinching firm plucky lionhearted self-confident greathearted spunky undeterred self-assured doughty unswerving game mettlesome See More 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 Synonyms & Similar Words withdrawn bashful diffident introverted lone coy retiring sheepish modest demure reserved embarrassed backward self-effacing recessive awkward antisocial unsociable unassertive unsocial uneasy uptight inhibited unadventurous self-conscious unenterprising lone-wolf Antonyms & Near Antonyms outgoing extroverted immodest gregarious extraverted sociable social companionable convivial forceful bold dashing uninhibited boon brash clubbable forward unreserved clubable overbold See More 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 Synonyms & Similar Words lacking low scarce short inadequate insufficient wanting deficient stingy unacceptable sparse slender lean mere unsatisfactory small skimpy poor light meager minimum spare scant slim bare scanty slight niggardly substandard meagre skimp hand-to-mouth Antonyms & Near Antonyms enough generous adequate sufficient liberal abundant ample plentiful copious bountiful bounteous enlarged plenteous satisfactory large big super plenitudinous supplemented rich tolerable overflowing expanded teeming considerable substantial lavish sizeable hefty oversized sizable abounding oversize luxuriant largish jumbo king-sized king-size See More 4 as in notorious not respectable she was nervous about being left alone in a shy bar in a bad section of town Synonyms & Similar Words notorious infamous shady shameful criminal low discreditable bad immoral disgraceful disreputable dishonorable dirty ignominious louche opprobrious unrespectable shoddy vicious wrong mean miserable wicked contemptible loose sinful sordid unethical corrupt evil vile villainous detestable unsavory dissolute seamy perverted despicable base rotten censurable libertine nefarious depraved wretched iniquitous blamable debauched blameworthy inglorious unrighteous degenerate gamy reprehensible reprobate debased gamey Antonyms & Near Antonyms respectable just honest honorable good noble decent moral righteous reputable upright ethical permitted respected prestigious permissible legal esteemed reputed authorized correct licensed clean proper approved endorsed principled decorous upstanding creditable exemplary commendable blameless seemly sanctioned indorsed guiltless See More shy 2 of 2 verb as in to flinch Synonyms & Similar Words flinch shrink start recoil wince quail blench Antonyms & Near Antonyms cuddle nuzzle nestle crouch snoozle snuggle huddle curl up See More Synonym Chooser 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 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 While the synonyms coy and shy are close in meaning, coy implies a pretended shyness. put off by her coy manner 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 The meanings of modest and shy largely overlap; however, modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit. modest about her success Phrases Containing shy fight shy of fight shy of
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shy

adjective

verb (1)

noun (1)

verb (2)

noun (2)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing shy

Kids Definition

adjective

verb

Choose the Right Synonym for shy

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser

Phrases Containing shy