bashful

adjective

bash·ful ˈbash-fəl How to pronounce bashful (audio)

: socially shy or timid : diffident, self-conscious

He was bashful as a child.

: resulting from or typical of a bashful nature

a bashful smile

bashfully

ˈbash-fə-lē How to pronounce bashful (audio)

adverb

bashfulness

ˈbash-fəl-nəs How to pronounce bashful (audio)

noun

Did you know?

The Roots of Bashful

The adjective suffix -ful has a number of different senses, most of which have very little to do with "full of." In the case of bashful, -ful means "having the qualities of." This sense of -ful was combined with an obsolete verb bash meaning "to be abashed” (that is, dismayed or embarrassed) to form bashful, which literally means “having the qualities of being abashed.” This combination of a verb with -ful is also seen in mournful, which literally means “having the qualities of mourning.”

Example Sentences

bashful boys asking girls to dance a bashful child who hid in his room whenever there were visitors in the house

Recent Examples on the Web The wheel-and-tire package—featuring staggered 20-inch, 35-series Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, off the shelf—is downright bashful.

Dan Neil, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 He’s sweet, introspective, a bit bashful and values the ritual of manually flipping tapes and LPs over to start anew — not only an obvious metaphor in a film that trades in them, but clunky foreshadowing too.

Courtney Howard, Variety, 23 June 2022 When your job is to constantly hunt for new restaurants, few things are as thrilling as coming across an intriguing new concept with a bashful name.

Nick Kindelsperger, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2022 Camille Weatherspoon may be a bit bashful, but that hasn’t stopped the high school student from getting her products into the hands of grateful customers.

C.r. Walker, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2022 During our conversation, Welsh revealed that her bashful, timid nature wasn’t anything new.

Essence, 3 Mar. 2022 San Francisco leaders haven’t been bashful about their hopes to make Treasure Island a playground for the affluent.

Justin Phillips, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2022 Some are calm and bashful while others howl or jump, full of energy.

Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Mar. 2022 And there’s no need to feel bashful about the situation either.

Rozalynn S. Frazier, SELF, 10 Mar. 2022 See More

bashful

adjective

as in shy

not comfortable around people a bashful child who hid in his room whenever there were visitors in the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of bashful are coy, diffident, modest, and shy. While all these words mean "not inclined to be forward," bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.

a bashful boy out on his first date

In some situations, the words coy and bashful are roughly equivalent. However, coy implies a pretended shyness.

put off by her coy manner

The words diffident and bashful can be used in similar contexts, but 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 bashful largely overlap; however, modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.

modest about her success

The words shy and bashful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

shy with strangers

单词	bashful
释义	bashful adjective bash·ful ˈbash-fəl 1 : socially shy or timid : diffident, self-conscious He was bashful as a child. 2 : resulting from or typical of a bashful nature a bashful smile bashfully ˈbash-fə-lē adverb bashfulness ˈbash-fəl-nəs noun Did you know? The Roots of Bashful The adjective suffix -ful has a number of different senses, most of which have very little to do with "full of." In the case of bashful, -ful means "having the qualities of." This sense of -ful was combined with an obsolete verb bash meaning "to be abashed” (that is, dismayed or embarrassed) to form bashful, which literally means “having the qualities of being abashed.” This combination of a verb with -ful is also seen in mournful, which literally means “having the qualities of mourning.” Synonyms backward coy demure diffident introverted modest recessive retiring self-effacing sheepish shy withdrawn See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences bashful boys asking girls to dance a bashful child who hid in his room whenever there were visitors in the house Recent Examples on the Web The wheel-and-tire package—featuring staggered 20-inch, 35-series Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, off the shelf—is downright bashful. Dan Neil, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 He’s sweet, introspective, a bit bashful and values the ritual of manually flipping tapes and LPs over to start anew — not only an obvious metaphor in a film that trades in them, but clunky foreshadowing too. Courtney Howard, Variety, 23 June 2022 When your job is to constantly hunt for new restaurants, few things are as thrilling as coming across an intriguing new concept with a bashful name. Nick Kindelsperger, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2022 Camille Weatherspoon may be a bit bashful, but that hasn’t stopped the high school student from getting her products into the hands of grateful customers. C.r. Walker, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2022 During our conversation, Welsh revealed that her bashful, timid nature wasn’t anything new. Essence, 3 Mar. 2022 San Francisco leaders haven’t been bashful about their hopes to make Treasure Island a playground for the affluent. Justin Phillips, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2022 Some are calm and bashful while others howl or jump, full of energy. Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Mar. 2022 And there’s no need to feel bashful about the situation either. Rozalynn S. Frazier, SELF, 10 Mar. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Early Modern English bash "to lose composure, be dismayed" (going back to Middle English baishen, basshen, probably aphetic variant of abaissen, abaschen "to abash") + -ful entry 1 First Known Use 1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing bashful bashful bladder bashful bladder syndrome bashful bladder bashful bladder syndrome Kids Definition bashful adjective bash·ful ˈbash-fəl 1 : uneasy in the presence of others 2 : showing shyness a bashful smile bashful adjective as in shy not comfortable around people a bashful child who hid in his room whenever there were visitors in the house Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance shy withdrawn diffident sheepish coy lone demure introverted retiring modest embarrassed self-effacing backward reserved recessive awkward antisocial unassertive unsociable unsocial uptight unadventurous uneasy self-conscious inhibited unenterprising lone-wolf Antonyms & Near Antonyms immodest extroverted outgoing gregarious extraverted sociable companionable social convivial bold forceful uninhibited dashing brash boon clubbable unreserved forward clubable overbold See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of bashful are coy, diffident, modest, and shy. While all these words mean "not inclined to be forward," bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence. a bashful boy out on his first date In some situations, the words coy and bashful are roughly equivalent. However, coy implies a pretended shyness. put off by her coy manner The words diffident and bashful can be used in similar contexts, but 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 bashful largely overlap; however, modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit. modest about her success The words shy and bashful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others. shy with strangers
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bashful

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing bashful

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser