as in shy
not comfortable around people
a sheepish scholar who is most comfortable when surrounded by books
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sheepish
Even Eilish, who was 18 at the time, seemed sheepish about the size of her haul that night.
—
Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
If the rookie's intent is to keep playing in order to become more comfortable and get into a groove, that's something he can be commended on, as there are players in the NFL who may become sheepish about starting the week after their first start yields poor individual results.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
If the rookie's intent is to keep playing in order to become more comfortable and get into a groove, that's something he can be commended on, as there are players in the NFL who may become sheepish about starting the week after their first start yields poor individual results.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheepish
Adjective
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For reference, Palisades fire survivors expect to pay around $800 per square foot to rebuild, while Eaton fire survivors expect to pay just shy of $600.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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Completing the triptych is the story of yet another student in 1972, the shy Hannes (Enzo Brumm), who hopes to study poetry but is soon taken with the lovely Gundula (Marlene Burow), who is researching the neural responses of the geranium on her windowsill.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 May 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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Zoom is now the lone software stock on our list.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
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As the women — plus Ty Jessick of Santa Monica, a friend of Ford’s and the lone man at the event — settle into their seats, Ford greets them again, recounts the Yacht Girls’ early days and her vision for the book club’s next chapter.—
Paula L. Woods,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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