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as in withdrawn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
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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
-
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
-
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
-
Nothing undermines success like a lack of stability, and of course, a lacking quarterback.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
-
These are all signs of a lacking musclespan, whereas not noticing any difficulties in everyday tasks suggests a stronger trajectory.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Both had been held at El Helicoide, the notorious Caracas detention complex widely associated with political detentions.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Also this week, grocery chain Wegmans is collecting your biometric data and 2010s cupcake darling Sprinkles is closing, as is famed (or perhaps more accurately, notorious) LA restaurant Horses.—
Li Goldstein,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His comment shouldn’t be interpreted as a postgame shot at an overwhelmed Red Raiders offense and, everything considered, his vaunted defense’s performance hardly resembled a unit that flinched at the challenges.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
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In this Tudor renovation, designer Barrie Benson combined 10 different textiles and prints in a single, orderly viewpoint without flinching.—
Zoe Gowen,
Southern Living,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
The president argued that inflation was already low enough to start cutting rates.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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There’s something motivating about having this low, electronic drumbeat pushing you along, trying to go faster and faster and faster.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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 13 Jan. 2026.
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