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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
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
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
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheepish
Adjective
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Nobody knows better than Riley that the current Heat iteration led by Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and now Norman Powell leaves Miami still wanting, still well shy of championship contention.—
Greg Cote
February 25,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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While admitting to being reserved and shy, there was no trace of annoyance or desire to speed things up.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 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Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—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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The Flynns’ pompous neighbor, Jim Doherty, a divorcé with a withdrawn, unpleasant son, encourages Catherine’s artistic rebirth.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Sidberry scored the senior lineup's lone basket — but the scoreboard was of little consequence to the veteran Longhorns.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
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Offseason after offseason during Mike McDaniel’s four-year tenure Miami spent big, with last year being the lone exception.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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