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shy

11 ENTRIES FOUND:

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>
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

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>.

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