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as in withdrawn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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shy
ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
That’s a 33 percent jump, putting it close to Samsung’s latest mid-range phones and $100 shy of the new Moto G Stylus.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
Kelley King Heyworth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2026
Never one to shy away from posting a good bikini photo, the actress has shared many in the past.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Adjective
Justus Annunen stopped 43 shots — one shy of his career high — for his third career shutout, and the Nashville Predators sent the Anaheim Ducks to their sixth consecutive loss, 5-0 on Tuesday night.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
That’s a 33 percent jump, putting it close to Samsung’s latest mid-range phones and $100 shy of the new Moto G Stylus.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
As a result, their kids tend to shy away from expressing their emotions in relationships.
—Kelley King Heyworth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2026
Never one to shy away from posting a good bikini photo, the actress has shared many in the past.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
Adjective
-
One of the earliest of American masculinity influencers was President Theodore Roosevelt, who touted his own transformation from a timid, effeminate man – local presses mocked him in his early career – to a rugged outdoorsman.—
Miriam Eve Mora,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Sergio Romano and Pierpaolo Capovilla star as two fifty-something men from Italy’s northern Veneto area who befriend a timid student from Naples, played by Filippo Scotti.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Along the way, Babilonia matured from the shy withdrawn child who refused to hold a boy’s hand into a bold, strong and confident woman.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Loro Parque, a zoo on the island of Tenerife, offers a clean and safe environment, expert care and proper mental and social stimulation that Wikie and Keijo are desperately lacking.—
Valerie Greene,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Strike chronicles the 2013 hunger strike by 30,000 prisoners at Pelican Bay, a supermax prison notorious for its use of solitary confinement, highlighting the personal stories of the hunger strikers and the broader implications of their resistance.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The mopeds and similar modes of transportation have become notorious in Boston, often weaving through traffic and lining up outside of popular takeout spots.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hutson did not flinch and impacted the game both offensively and defensively, despite being kept off the scoresheet.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Gorajski flinched and ducked out of the way like Cisek was an incoming meteor.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The bashful display marks rock-bottom for Gabbard’s career.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Independent opinion polls show support for Fidesz has dropped to its lowest level in years.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Oilers scored on all three power-play chances in the best performance for that unit since Leon Draisaitl went down with a lower-body injury on March 15 after scoring with the man advantage early in that game.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The museum also does not shy away from presenting one of the state’s most infamous racial killings, that of Emmett Till.—
Gary Fields,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The museum also does not shy away from presenting one of the state's most infamous racial killings, that of Emmett Till.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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