SHEEPISH Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

sheepish

adjective

ˈshē-pish

Definition of sheepish

as in shy

not comfortable around people a sheepish scholar who is most comfortable when surrounded by books

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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 sheepish At full time, he was pushed forward by Will Hughes and Maxence Lacroix to take in the appreciation of the supporters, looking almost sheepish at the attention. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 May 2026 Sugano walked off the mound with a sheepish grin. — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026 The video feed suddenly cut out, replaced by a view inside the White Flight Control Room here at NASA's Johnson Space Center while flight controllers prepared a response that sounded a bit sheepish. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Apr. 2026 The Grammy winner made his sheepish confession during an appearance on Brittany Broski's Royal Court on Wednesday. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sheepish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheepish

Adjective

Ford sold under just shy of 170,000 vehicles last month — 169,951.

— Breana Noble, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is never shy about influencing how Americans should vote.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of shy

Adjective

And Jonathan is a continuing reminder that liberalism doesn’t have to be apologetic or bashful about itself.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
Cran-raspberry juice, pink lemonade concentrate, and grenadine provide its blush and bashful hue, while passionfruit juice cocktail gives it tropical flavors.

— Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 25 July 2026

Definition of bashful

Adjective

If the committee decides to tackle congressional redistricting, Thompson, Mississippi’s lone Black and Democratic official in Washington, will almost certainly be targeted by the majority-Republican state Legislature.

— TAYLOR VANCE, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
In March, Miller, the lone survivor of the Piedmont crash, also sued Tesla over its electronic door-opening and emergency-egress systems.

— Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of lone

Browse Nearby Words

sheepherders

sheepish

sheepishly

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“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sheepish

adjective

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