shrinking violetnoun [ C ]
uk/ˌʃrɪŋ.kɪŋ ˈvaɪə.lət/us/ˌʃrɪŋ.kɪŋ ˈvaɪə.lət/informala person who is very shy or modest and does not like to attract attention:
She loves appearing on television and is no shrinking violet when it comes to expressing her views.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Shy and modest
- aw shucks
- backward
- bashful
- be backward in coming forward idiom
- coy
- efface
- inadequacy
- inadequate
- inhibited
- inhibition
- introvert
- modest
- self-effacing
- selfless
- shy
- shyly
- shyness
- unassuming
- withdraw
- withdrawal
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