Synonyms of shy

shy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈshī 

1

as in timid

easily frightened

a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• timid
• fearful
• scary
• scared
• afraid
• timorous
• mousy
• terrified
• fainthearted
• tremulous
• skittish
• yellow
• panicked
• fearsome
• startled
• cowardly
• apprehensive
• craven
• pusillanimous
• anxious
• nervous
• gutless
• unheroic
• dastardly
• alarmed
• spineless
• jumpy
• spooked
• chicken
• jittery
• spooky
• panicky
• chickenhearted
• horrified
• milk-livered
• shocked
• lily-livered
• unnerved
• chicken-livered
• poltroon
• terrorized
• panic-stricken

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• daring
• adventurous
• bold
• brave
• hardy
• fearless
• courageous
• audacious
• confident
• gutsy
• venturesome
• heroic
• dashing
• gallant
• valiant
• intrepid
• undaunted
• stout
• dauntless
• stalwart
• adventuresome
• valorous
• venturous
• assured
• resolute
• firm
• determined
• unflinching
• spirited
• plucky
• undeterred
• game
• stouthearted
• greathearted
• self-confident
• lionhearted
• unswerving
• doughty
• self-assured
• spunky
• mettlesome

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as in withdrawn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

• withdrawn
• bashful
• lone
• introverted
• diffident
• retiring
• coy
• modest
• sheepish
• backward
• recessive
• demure
• embarrassed
• reserved
• self-effacing
• awkward
• antisocial
• unsociable
• unsocial
• unassertive
• uneasy
• lone-wolf
• uptight
• unadventurous
• inhibited
• self-conscious
• unenterprising

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• outgoing
• extroverted
• immodest
• gregarious
• social
• sociable
• companionable
• convivial
• forceful
• bold
• boon
• dashing
• uninhibited
• brash
• forward
• clubbable
• unreserved
• overbold

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

• lacking
• low
• scarce
• short
• inadequate
• insufficient
• wanting
• deficient
• unacceptable
• sparse
• stingy
• unsatisfactory
• lean
• mere
• slender
• small
• skimpy
• poor
• meager
• scant
• minimum
• scanty
• spare
• slim
• light
• bare
• substandard
• slight
• skimp
• hand-to-mouth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enough
• adequate
• sufficient
• generous
• liberal
• abundant
• ample
• plentiful
• copious
• bountiful
• bounteous
• enlarged
• plenteous
• satisfactory
• large
• supplemented
• rich
• expanded
• tolerable
• big
• overflowing
• super
• considerable
• plenitudinous
• substantial
• lavish
• sizable
• hefty
• teeming
• luxuriant
• oversize
• abounding
• jumbo
• largish
• king-size

4

as in notorious

not respectable

she was nervous about being left alone in a shy bar in a bad section of town

Synonyms & Similar Words

• notorious
• infamous
• shady
• criminal
• shameful
• immoral
• bad
• disgraceful
• discreditable
• low
• disreputable
• dishonorable
• ignominious
• shoddy
• opprobrious
• dirty
• louche
• vicious
• unrespectable
• wrong
• mean
• wicked
• miserable
• corrupt
• sordid
• unethical
• vile
• evil
• sinful
• contemptible
• detestable
• unsavory
• villainous
• seamy
• base
• loose
• rotten
• despicable
• nefarious
• wretched
• perverted
• dissolute
• iniquitous
• depraved
• unrighteous
• inglorious
• blameworthy
• reprehensible
• degenerate
• debauched
• censurable
• debased
• libertine
• blamable
• gamy
• reprobate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• respectable
• honorable
• just
• honest
• good
• noble
• moral
• decent
• reputable
• righteous
• ethical
• upright
• permitted
• respected
• principled
• prestigious
• legal
• permissible
• esteemed
• authorized
• reputed
• licensed
• correct
• proper
• clean
• endorsed
• approved
• upstanding
• decorous
• creditable
• exemplary
• commendable
• blameless
• sanctioned
• seemly
• guiltless

shy

2 of 2

verb

as in to flinch

Related Words

• flinch
• shrink
• recoil
• wince
• start
• quail
• blench

Dissimilar Words

• cuddle
• nuzzle
• snuggle
• curl up
• nestle
• crouch
• snoozle
• huddle

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective shy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of shy are bashful, coy, diffident, and modest. While all these words mean "not inclined to be forward," shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

shy with strangers

When can bashful be used instead of shy?

The words bashful and shy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.

a bashful boy out on his first date

When might coy be a better fit than shy?

While the synonyms coy and shy are close in meaning, coy implies a pretended shyness.

put off by her coy manner

In what contexts can diffident take the place of shy?

In some situations, the words diffident and shy are roughly equivalent. However, diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking.

felt diffident about raising an objection

When could modest be used to replace shy?

The meanings of modest and shy largely overlap; however, modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.

modest about her success

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shy

Adjective

Viennese Actionist artist Ingrid Wiener died at the age of 83, just shy of her 84th birthday, Charim Gallery announced in an Instagram post. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

At night, the bed measures in a few square inches shy of a queen at 58 x 76-in (147 x 193-cm), comfortably sleeping two people or a solo adventurer hellbent on escaping everything and everyone. — New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026

Verb

But the lineup of fierce rising comics (with considerably less to lose) didn’t shy away from the insecurities and taboos their Gen Z audience might be too anxious to confront. — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Juan Angel, who went on to build a successful landscaping business, struggled with alcoholism, which Rivera chronicles in this narrative that does not shy away from the role addiction played in the life and death of his role model. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing shy

• fight shy of