shy

¹shy

adj \ˈshī\

shi·er or shy·er\ˈshī(-ə)r\shi·est or shy·est\ˈshī-əst\

Definition of SHY

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>

— shy·ly adverb

— shy·ness noun

Examples of SHY

1. I was painfully shy as a teenager.
2. She was too shy to ask for help.
3. He gave her a shy smile.
4. Help yourself if you want more. Don't be shy.

Origin of SHY

Middle English schey, from Old English scēoh; akin to Old High German sciuhen to frighten off

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SHY

Synonyms: fainthearted, fearful, fearsome, mousy (or mousey), scary, skittish, timid, timorous, tremulous

Antonyms: adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, dashing, gutsy, hardy, venturesome, venturous

Related Words: chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, cowardly, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, spineless, unheroic, yellow; jittery, jumpy, spooky; anxious, apprehensive, nervous; afraid, alarmed, horrified, panicked, panicky, panic-stricken, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized, unnerved

Near Antonyms: brave, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, undaunted, valiant, valorous; assured, confident, self-assured, self-confident; determined, firm, game, plucky, resolute, undeterred, unflinching, unswerving; mettlesome, spirited, spunky

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Synonym Discussion of SHY

shy, bashful, diffident, modest, coy mean not inclined to be forward. shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others <shy with strangers>. bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence <a bashful boy out on his first date>. diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking <felt diffident about raising an objection>. modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit <modest about her success>. coy implies a pretended shyness <put off by her coy manner>.