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
Red-cheeked and reticent, the duo shook their heads and took their sheepish leave.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
In the first earnings call after its catastrophic rebrand, which triggered an immediate customer backlash and forced a sheepish reversal, the company reported a 5.4% increase in comparable store restaurant sales and a 4.4% revenue gain in fourth quarter 2025, adjusting for the 53rd week in 2024.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Photos from their wedding ceremony, which took place at the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick, Scotland, show a tall, dark-haired man in a suit standing among the other guests — and appearing a bit sheepish — per BBC Scotland.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
As the initially sheepish Lorraine, Ortega does some of her most subtle work here.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
In the first earnings call after its catastrophic rebrand, which triggered an immediate customer backlash and forced a sheepish reversal, the company reported a 5.4% increase in comparable store restaurant sales and a 4.4% revenue gain in fourth quarter 2025, adjusting for the 53rd week in 2024.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Photos from their wedding ceremony, which took place at the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick, Scotland, show a tall, dark-haired man in a suit standing among the other guests — and appearing a bit sheepish — per BBC Scotland.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
As the initially sheepish Lorraine, Ortega does some of her most subtle work here.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheepish
Adjective
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His previous career high was 56, which was one shy of the 6A record (the classification for the largest schools).—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
15 Jan. 2026
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Molina Healthcare added almost 2%, and UnitedHealth ticked up just shy of 1%.—
Michelle Fox,Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Set in Taiwan in 1988, Girl revolves around Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn girl, growing up in silent gloom.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
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Unfortunately, further discussions were heated, with no resolve, just more withdrawn behavior while the communications continued.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Next was a bashful grad student from Columbia’s engineering school who could not make eye contact.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
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If a good time is picking up steam, San Diegans aren’t bashful about jumping on a Happy Train’s caboose.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Travis Konecny scored the lone Philadelphia goal 55 seconds into the second period.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Commissioner Ralph Rosado was the lone no-vote, questioning Reyes’ management experience and pointing to the absence of a national search.—
Tess Riski
January 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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