1
: afraid of loud noise (such as that of a gun)
2
: markedly distrustful, afraid, or cautious
Examples of gun-shy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the specter of political consequences has officials in Miami feeling gun-shy about taking a public stance that could incite the wrath of the state and federal governments.
—
Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2026
But because Trump and the Republicans have been so effective in slapping extreme liberal caricatures on their opponents, Democrats are gun-shy.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
With President Donald Trump sending armed federal agents into communities around the country, even more once gun-shy liberals and leftists are considering getting armed.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
City staff members and officials remain a little gun-shy, Hazeltine said.
—Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025
The pressure from both the U.S. and China has seemingly made Panama more gun-shy about those ports shifting hands, with numerous officials putting CK Hutchison’s partnership with the Panamanian government under scrutiny.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
The writers gave The X-Files an award back in 1996 when the overall Academy was gun-shy about voting for it in Outstanding Drama.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2025
Underneath the puns and pumps was a dress-down of the rom-com that ultimately told the story of a woman who fell in love, came out worse, and became gun-shy.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 30 May 2025
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Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2026
But because Trump and the Republicans have been so effective in slapping extreme liberal caricatures on their opponents, Democrats are gun-shy.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
With President Donald Trump sending armed federal agents into communities around the country, even more once gun-shy liberals and leftists are considering getting armed.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
City staff members and officials remain a little gun-shy, Hazeltine said.
—Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025
The pressure from both the U.S. and China has seemingly made Panama more gun-shy about those ports shifting hands, with numerous officials putting CK Hutchison’s partnership with the Panamanian government under scrutiny.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
The writers gave The X-Files an award back in 1996 when the overall Academy was gun-shy about voting for it in Outstanding Drama.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2025
Underneath the puns and pumps was a dress-down of the rom-com that ultimately told the story of a woman who fell in love, came out worse, and became gun-shy.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gun-shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gun-shy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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