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as in withdrawn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
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
a shy person
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shy
Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Oh, and on March 5, 2022, just shy of 19,000 NBA fans were leaving the Charlotte Hornets’ game that started at 4 p.m. at Spectrum at the same time an MLS-record 74,479 people were assembling at BofA for Charlotte FC’s inaugural home game against the LA Galaxy.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2025
Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2025
While they’re known to keep their relationship private, the couple don't shy away from supporting each other's work.
—Sydney Wingfield, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shy
Adjective
But in large part because of the cooperation Francis provided, prosecutors recommended a sentence just shy of 12 years.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Oh, and on March 5, 2022, just shy of 19,000 NBA fans were leaving the Charlotte Hornets’ game that started at 4 p.m. at Spectrum at the same time an MLS-record 74,479 people were assembling at BofA for Charlotte FC’s inaugural home game against the LA Galaxy.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
But these weren’t concerns Crescent shied away from, Ruane said.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2025
While they’re known to keep their relationship private, the couple don't shy away from supporting each other's work.
—Sydney Wingfield, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
Adjective
-
In general at the N4G summit, and in particular at a side event at the Brazilian embassy themed around food systems and climate change, discussions of climate change were timid about mentioning industrial livestock’s role in land-use change.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Wu was seen as timid at the beginning of the migrant crisis, staying in the background while Healey seized a Roxbury community rec center as a migrant shelter.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Its influence on the withdrawn protagonist, Jamie (played by Owen Cooper), is largely implied.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The withdrawn San Francisco drama, about lonely nonbinary nanny and restaurant server Cass (Asia Kate Dillon), is simple in its presentation, but disguises numerous layers to its story.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Third-party cookies are notorious for helping analytics firms and advertisers track users’ activities, potentially violating their online privacy.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
22 Apr. 2025
-
El Salvador's top Catholic leader on Sunday urged President Nayib Bukele not to turn the country into a Guantanamo-style U.S. prison, after Bukele made a deal with Washington to house deported migrants from the United States in a notorious jail.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Through three games against the more seasoned and favored Knicks, the Pistons have looked their counterparts in the eye and, except for their fourth-quarter collapse in Game 1, haven’t flinched.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The assistant hitting coach flinched, but held his ground.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Cher was bashful to be busted but then couldn’t help laughing out loud at the audacity.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Or maybe the movie’s stars are just feeling a bit bashful!—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
There is no sign outside Hurdle’s San Diego salon, but despite the low profile, her Instagram page warns that she’s usually booked months in advance.—
Lindsy Van Gelder,
Allure,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Their recruitment model is heavily dependent on identifying and developing young talent — often at low cost by Premier League spending standards — from all over the world.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Returning to Churchill after his infamous two-year-plus-one-year Churchill ban dating from Medina Spirit’s 2021 betamethasone disqualification, Baffert was buoyant about the work.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Suggestions that Marseille’s players had refused to train inevitably resurrected memories of the infamous training-ground strike at the South African resort of Knysna that contributed to the France national team’s spectacular derailment at the 2010 World Cup.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
These sprays shrink the blood vessels in your nasal passages.—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The number shrank during Italy’s postwar economic boom as residents moved to the mainland for more modern housing — including indoor plumbing, which was lacking in Venice.—
Colleen Barry,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share