1
as in timid
easily frightened
a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise
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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as in withdrawn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
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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shy
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Perez is just 15 home runs shy of surpassing Hall of Famer George Brett (317 homers) for the most in franchise history.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 30 Dec. 2025
From the Civil War battlegrounds of Gettysburg to the birthplace of the fearsome Dracula in Transylvania, this Travel Channel show proves that Bagans and his team shy away from no haunted location.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shy
Adjective
That length is a little bit shy of four feet, which is what Paul Hollywood would have if he got turned into a meerkat.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Perez is just 15 home runs shy of surpassing Hall of Famer George Brett (317 homers) for the most in franchise history.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
The Quarter Queen is a riveting read that does not shy away from both the light and the dark aspects of the supernatural, while highlighting aspects of New Orleans’ history.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 30 Dec. 2025
From the Civil War battlegrounds of Gettysburg to the birthplace of the fearsome Dracula in Transylvania, this Travel Channel show proves that Bagans and his team shy away from no haunted location.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
Adjective
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This means the country’s appetite for bold exploration, which the compact between science and government supported for decades, may be gone, too—leaving in its place more timid, short-term thinking.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
30 Dec. 2025
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So that Indiana politicians could grow timid.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
12 Dec. 2025
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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But Wild coach John Hynes noted in training camp that Jiricek’s decision making in the heat of the battle in the defensive zone is sometimes lacking.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
27 Oct. 2025
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And the flick, based on Hoover’s bestselling novel, lays it on thick alongside a lacking narrative and cringey dialogue.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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However, as the show continues to capture audiences with a dramatization of one of the most notorious true crime cases in modern American history, the man responsible for the killings is asking viewers to consider watching with a skeptical mind.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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Especially when that witch is perhaps the most notorious one in history.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Sheinbaum quickly moves away and visibly flinches as the man attempts to put his arm around her.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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In the bottom of the third, Yesavage’s only blemish of the game came on a 2-0 count to Enrique Hernandez, who didn’t flinch at a splitter up in the zone.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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At times, the new mom gets bashful about the attention she’s received since returning to the team.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
3 Oct. 2025
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Livestreaming isn’t the same as actually being there and seeing the fabric flow, the textures, the audience reaction and the bashful designer with their head down, forced onto the runway at the end of each show.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The research team highlighted that beyond water harvesting, these coatings could help reduce urban heat island effects, lower energy needs for air-conditioning and provide climate-resilient water sources in regions facing growing heat and water stress.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The next chapter in Murphy’s anthology will examine the infamous American crime, trial and aftermath.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
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The same filmmakers who had made his family infamous in 1973 were summoned, once more, to capture his final days.—
Tiffany Jenkins,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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