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as in withdrawn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• withdrawn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

Trailing 24-17 late in the third quarter, Boise State lined up three yards shy of the first-down marker and seven yards from the end zone. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2026

Kansas City is two points shy of third-place North Carolina, which is tied with fourth-place Utah and fifth-place San Diego with 39 points. — Pj Green september 11, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026

Verb

Christian Watson Watson missed 23 games since his rookie season in 2022, and Fantasy managers are quick to shy away from injury-prone players. — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Artworks on view in a series of gallery and city-wide venues don’t shy from addressing politically sensitive issues either, such as women’s rights. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing shy

• fight shy of