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as in withdrawn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
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a shy person
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shy
Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Athletics starter Luis Severino isn’t shying away from his thoughts about his team’s home ballpark.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
As of Friday, Lilo & Stitch is a just under $3 million shy of A Minecraft Movie’s global box office take of nearly $953.2 million.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shy
Adjective
Georgetown Palace Theatre stages classic ‘Fiddler on the Roof’
This enormously ambitious company based in the Austin suburb of Georgetown does not shy away from big, big musicals.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Athletics starter Luis Severino isn’t shying away from his thoughts about his team’s home ballpark.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
Alonso ended the day with 246 career homers, leaving him six shy of tying Darryl Strawberry’s franchise record.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
As of Friday, Lilo & Stitch is a just under $3 million shy of A Minecraft Movie’s global box office take of nearly $953.2 million.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
Adjective
-
Putin played the timid souls of these make-America-weak policymakers like a violin.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Although timid at first, Sarah has now let her personality shine.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Often, people that indulge in this type of culture are considered anti-social or withdrawn, a stereotype that has been passed around for years.—
Dominick Williams,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2025
-
People become irritable, withdrawn, or hyper-independent.—
Barnaby Lashbrooke,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
This time around, opponents include immigration advocates who are worried about a lack of oversight at the facility, as well as the welfare of detainees being held in tents in Florida's notorious summer humidity and what forecasters predict will be another above-average hurricane season.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
1 July 2025
-
Iran acknowledged on Sunday that an Israeli strike on Tehran’s notorious Evin prison last week killed dozens of people.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
When the conversation turned to the metaphorical messes — like heartbreak — the 54-year-old didn’t flinch.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
3 July 2025
-
Judge Subramanian didn’t flinch, siding with the government.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
There are dozens of people screaming his name and the young Ronaldo appears bashful and shy.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
-
But that hasn't stopped Chisholm, who is not bashful about adding chains and non-uniform colors to his look, from getting criticism.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
6 July 2025
-
Trim the lower branches of your hydrangea to allow air to circulate at ground level.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
Billy Bush brought up Donald Trump‘s infamous Access Hollywood tape during a new interview with Rob Lowe on the actor’s SiriusXM podcast Literally!—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
10 July 2025
-
At last, the most infamous latecomer in all of literature has arrived—not in the flesh, but in South Africa’s Afrikaans language.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
The good news is that the potential to compound one’s wealth grows by the day as the world shrinks by the day through commercial advances that reach greater and greater numbers of people.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Since Captain Cook had first arrived on the island, in 1769, measles, pneumonia, influenza, and syphilis had shrunk the population from around two hundred thousand to eight thousand.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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