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as in withdrawn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
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
That's just shy of $980 in total!
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Oil had suddenly skyrocketed to just shy of $120 a barrel and stock futures were plunging as the war raged in the Middle East.
—Denitsa Tsekova, Bloomberg, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Adjective
When Lamont projected nearly two weeks ago that state finances still were on pace for a razor-thin $33 million operating surplus, that report ignored Scanlon’s estimate that the retiree health care was shy by $39 million.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
That's just shy of $980 in total!
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Igbinosun is tough, strong and doesn’t shy away from support against the run.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Oil had suddenly skyrocketed to just shy of $120 a barrel and stock futures were plunging as the war raged in the Middle East.
—Denitsa Tsekova, Bloomberg, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
Adjective
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Their smaller counterparts, alpacas, are more timid and shy, but the more independent ones that aren't afraid to be away from the herd do well as therapy animals.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Jerusalem, timid about the prospect of a land invasion, can only respond with more airstrikes until the regime hits its breaking point and the people rise up.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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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
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This is Bali in the slow lane, devoid of Ubud‘s notorious traffic jams and souvenir stores, and with barely any other hotels in the surrounding area.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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Around that time Uthmeier was one of the forces behind the construction of notorious Alligator Alcatraz, the immigration detention facility located in the Everglades inside the Big Cypress National Preserve.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her coach never flinched, as Kara Lawson basked in the joy of winning such a big game in a city that has embraced her.—
Joe Davidson
March 27,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Even as Michigan State came roaring back in the second half, cutting the lead to just two in the final minute, UCLA never flinched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
-
The agency now aspires to test one or both on an Artemis III mission in low Earth orbit in 2027, to be followed by a landing on Artemis IV in 2028.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
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Accessibility In accordance with Japan’s progressive rules for handicap accessibility, all floors are accessible with wide elevator access, lower level buttons reachable from wheelchairs, and wheelchair accessible bathrooms on the restaurant level.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The public had little awareness of the U-2 until the infamous Gary Powers incident in 1960 when a U-2 was shot down by the Soviets inside their territory, which was a bit of a shock in more ways than one.—
David Szondy
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
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Taxstone’s scheme came during a particularly turbulent year at the infamous federal jail, which saw a brutal, caught-on video stabbing and two murders in 2024.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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