shy

¹shy

adjective \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

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>.

²shy

intransitive verb

shiedshy·ing

Definition of SHY

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

First Known Use of SHY

1649

³shy

noun

plural shies

Definition of SHY

: a sudden start aside (as from fright)

First Known Use of SHY

1791

⁴shy

verb

shiedshy·ing

Definition of SHY

intransitive verb

: to make a sudden throw

transitive verb

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

Origin of SHY

perhaps from ¹shy

First Known Use: 1787

⁵shy

noun

plural shies

Definition of SHY

1

: the act of shying : toss, throw

2

: a verbal fling or attack

3

: cockshy

First Known Use of SHY

1791