1
as in timid
easily frightened
a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
a shy person who finds talking to anyone but a close friend to be an awkward and unpleasant experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
the team is shy a couple of players because of illness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in notorious
not respectable
she was nervous about being left alone in a shy bar in a bad section of town
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shy
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Eight strikeouts shy of 250 for her career entering the game, Langford hit that mark against the lead-off batter in the top of the sixth, and her team gathered around its standout hurler on the mound to celebrate.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Oil had suddenly skyrocketed to just shy of $120 a barrel and stock futures were plunging as the war raged in the Middle East.
—Denitsa Tsekova, Bloomberg, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Adjective
UConn is 16 steals shy of breaking the single-season national record, which has stood since 1997.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Eight strikeouts shy of 250 for her career entering the game, Langford hit that mark against the lead-off batter in the top of the sixth, and her team gathered around its standout hurler on the mound to celebrate.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
Igbinosun is tough, strong and doesn’t shy away from support against the run.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Oil had suddenly skyrocketed to just shy of $120 a barrel and stock futures were plunging as the war raged in the Middle East.
—Denitsa Tsekova, Bloomberg, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
Adjective
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Their smaller counterparts, alpacas, are more timid and shy, but the more independent ones that aren't afraid to be away from the herd do well as therapy animals.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
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Jerusalem, timid about the prospect of a land invasion, can only respond with more airstrikes until the regime hits its breaking point and the people rise up.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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Along the way, Babilonia matured from the shy withdrawn child who refused to hold a boy’s hand into a bold, strong and confident woman.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
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Loro Parque, a zoo on the island of Tenerife, offers a clean and safe environment, expert care and proper mental and social stimulation that Wikie and Keijo are desperately lacking.—
Valerie Greene,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This is Bali in the slow lane, devoid of Ubud‘s notorious traffic jams and souvenir stores, and with barely any other hotels in the surrounding area.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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Around that time Uthmeier was one of the forces behind the construction of notorious Alligator Alcatraz, the immigration detention facility located in the Everglades inside the Big Cypress National Preserve.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Her coach never flinched, as Kara Lawson basked in the joy of winning such a big game in a city that has embraced her.—
Joe Davidson
March 27,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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Even as Michigan State came roaring back in the second half, cutting the lead to just two in the final minute, UCLA never flinched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The bashful display marks rock-bottom for Gabbard’s career.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, some of Brady’s former teammates with the Patriots weren’t bashful about their loyalty heading into Super Bowl LX between the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, including Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Customers in Upper Chichester, Lower Chichester, Marcus Hook and Twin Oaks, might experience low to no water pressure as the main break affects the area.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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While the data show overall birth outcomes improving — declining rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality — disparities are still prevalent, particularly for Black women.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The public had little awareness of the U-2 until the infamous Gary Powers incident in 1960 when a U-2 was shot down by the Soviets inside their territory, which was a bit of a shock in more ways than one.—
David Szondy
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
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Taxstone’s scheme came during a particularly turbulent year at the infamous federal jail, which saw a brutal, caught-on video stabbing and two murders in 2024.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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