as in shy
not comfortable around people
a sheepish scholar who is most comfortable when surrounded by books
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Recent Examples of sheepish
Putting it simply, Mackenzie’s a dork; a sheepish science guy whose awe of Samus and bumbling demeanor set the duo up as a typical odd couple.
—
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025
My protagonist feels similarly sheepish about her inability to master another language.
—Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Guests of the event, dressed up in cocktail attire, admitted to feeling sheepish, reminded so powerfully about the current context, and hurried their way inside the storied building more quickly than in previous editions.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2025
Red-cheeked and reticent, the duo shook their heads and took their sheepish leave.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025
My protagonist feels similarly sheepish about her inability to master another language.
—Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Guests of the event, dressed up in cocktail attire, admitted to feeling sheepish, reminded so powerfully about the current context, and hurried their way inside the storied building more quickly than in previous editions.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2025
Red-cheeked and reticent, the duo shook their heads and took their sheepish leave.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheepish
Adjective
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In virtually staged listing photos, the floorboards are black and polished, the walls are white, and, in lieu of a wall dividing the bedroom from the living and dining, there are custom double-sided bookshelves just shy of the roughly 13-foot ceiling.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
26 Mar. 2026
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The pair were on their way to Kennedy’s cousin Rory’s wedding when his plane crashed off of Martha’s Vineyard on the evening of Friday, July 16, 1999, killing all three passengers on board instantly — roughly two months shy of the couple’s third wedding anniversary.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
26 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Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—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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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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An efficient Cabrera issued only one walk and quickly erased the lone hit — a Nolan Schanuel one-out single in the fourth — with a double play from the next hitter.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Powell, who was the Heat’s lone All-Star this season, missed his second straight game on Monday due to an upper respiratory infection.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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