1
as in timid
easily frightened
a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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as in withdrawn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
Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 18 June 2026
Elsewhere in Los Angeles, Jacob, a shy 9-year-old with cropped, curly hair, skinny limbs, and a serious expression, was missing his mom.
—Claudia Boyd-Barrett, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 11 June 2026
The new kid in town doesn’t shy from talking industrial politics during brewery tours offered several times a week to the public.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Adjective
The warehouse was priced at just shy of $35 million, according to the listing on Boise real estate agency TOK Commercial’s website.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 18 June 2026
Elsewhere in Los Angeles, Jacob, a shy 9-year-old with cropped, curly hair, skinny limbs, and a serious expression, was missing his mom.
—Claudia Boyd-Barrett, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Verb
Tyla is never one to shy away from a bold or unexpected shoe choice.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 11 June 2026
The new kid in town doesn’t shy from talking industrial politics during brewery tours offered several times a week to the public.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
Adjective
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That might sound too timid in 2026, too reserved for a time when rights are being rolled back every day, and Gauthier recorded a much more direct version of the song late last year.—
Stephen Deusner,
SPIN,
15 June 2026
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And despite a timid political opening that has allowed the return of several opposition leaders and the emergence of others from hiding, over 400 political prisoners remain in custody as of May 25, according to figures compiled by the NGO Foro Penal.—
Alfredo Meza,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Blatter also suggested that Infantino, like a lot of dictators, has started acting withdrawn.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
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Patrick Stewart is also among those to have publicly discussed working with a withdrawn Hardy, who has also starred in The Dark Knight trilogy, Peaky Blinders and the Venom films.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Of those lacking space, dozens of schools have a solution in place — such as an annex that’s already planned, a capital project that’s already sited, or excess space in a building with several schools that can be reallocated — according to the plan.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
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Coaches and teammates have struggled to remain in contact with him, and AIyuk’s rare social media posts have been both cryptic and lacking clues about his football ambitions.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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The growing ties between Washington and Caracas were on display this week when the US and Venezuela carried out a joint operation targeting Tren de Aragua, the notorious Venezuelan gang designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US government.—
Alfredo Meza,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Many fans remember a notorious Dave Matthews Band concert in 2001 and assume noise concerns or curfews drove major shows away from Folsom.—
Jonathan Cohen,
SPIN,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The story does not flinch from the realities of segregation, including the violence that the family faced moving into white neighborhoods in Fort Worth in the 1950s, but there is more hope than fear, more faith in the power of righteousness to defeat injustice, in its pages.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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Credit card APRs are still parked near record highs, after all, and rates on mortgages and many other loan products have barely flinched, meaning there are big affordability challenges for those who need to borrow money in today's landscape.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Brock Purdy isn’t bashful about the 49ers’ potential.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
21 May 2026
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Lennon’s recounting of his and Ono’s meeting at a London show of her work, and of the bashful courtship that followed, is one of the most tender and revealing parts of the interview.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
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The proposal was designed to help stabilize the state budget and eliminate a structural deficit through July 2028, while also protecting smaller businesses with lower tax liability.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Aerion Targaryen Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett), also known as Aerion Brightflame, is a volatile and cruel Targaryen prince infamous for his arrogance and violent behavior.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
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While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.—
Gabriel Sama,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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