Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective coy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of coy are bashful, diffident, modest, and shy. While all these words mean "not inclined to be forward," coy implies a pretended shyness.

put off by her coy manner

Where would bashful be a reasonable alternative to coy?

While in some cases nearly identical to coy, bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.

a bashful boy out on his first date

When would diffident be a good substitute for coy?

While the synonyms diffident and coy are close in meaning, diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking.

felt diffident about raising an objection

When is it sensible to use modest instead of coy?

The meanings of modest and coy largely overlap; however, modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.

modest about her success

When could shy be used to replace coy?

In some situations, the words shy and coy are roughly equivalent. However, shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

shy with strangers

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of coy Regarding Season 3, Christie is coy. Andrew McGowan, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025 The coy name of this bourbon actually dates back to 1856. John Mariani, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 The costars are coy about the finality of their deaths but are willing to indulge the hope that the Roses smell the gas and escape. Erin Jensen, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025 Martel and editors Jerónimo Pérez Rioja and Miguel Schverdfinger are not coy about incorporating the unedited cellphone footage of Chocobar’s killing, taken by Amín himself. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coy
Adjective
  • After all, when coquettish Venus journeys through this methodical and down-to-earth sign, the focus shifts from grand gestures and displays of affection (Leo) to the way someone shows up in your day-to-day life (Virgo).
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Nab this charming bag, which comes in all sorts of coquettish florals and prints that flawlessly fit the aesthetic.
    Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s just shy of the $15 million to $25 million that box office analysts had predicted.
    Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Once approached by the director, the women were hardly camera-shy.
    Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Seductively kittenish, Gardner lives up to her profane reputation.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2023
  • Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Set in Taiwan in 1988, Girl revolves around Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn girl, growing up in silent gloom.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Unfortunately, further discussions were heated, with no resolve, just more withdrawn behavior while the communications continued.
    Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • As the shoot winds down, Köhler observes Maja and Nourou engaging in flirtatious tête-à-têtes barely hidden from view.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
  • With the sun and Venus in Libra this season — activating your flirtatious fifth house of love, passion and pleasure — everything from creativity to romantic affairs is suddenly on your radar.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Livestreaming isn’t the same as actually being there and seeing the fabric flow, the textures, the audience reaction and the bashful designer with their head down, forced onto the runway at the end of each show.
    Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Conrad is gorgeous yet bashful.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Fifty-two models followed her, in a dizzying array of looks: garments cut up and spliced back together with rouleau loops; hooded habits somehow rigged to float behind bodies; beaded do-rags; demure knit dresses; crocodile skin and leopard print and black latex.
    Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Her demure manicure matched perfectly with the daring vintage Mugler dress that her stylist, Andrew Mukamal, chose for her.
    Violeta Valdés, Glamour, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Coy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coy. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on coy

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