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
• afraid
• scared
• timorous
• mousy
• terrified
• yellow
• mousey
• fainthearted
• tremulous
• startled
• skittish
• fearsome
• panicked
• anxious
• apprehensive
• cowardly
• nervous
• craven
• pusillanimous
• alarmed
• gutless
• unheroic
• spooked
• dastardly
• chicken
• spineless
• jumpy
• shocked
• jittery
• horrified
• spooky
• panicky
• chickenhearted
• milk-livered
• 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
• heroical
• undeterred
• game
• stouthearted
• greathearted
• unswerving
• self-confident
• lionhearted
• 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as in withdrawn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• withdrawn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
• extraverted
• gregarious
• social
• sociable
• companionable
• convivial
• forceful
• bold
• boon
• dashing
• uninhibited
• brash
• forward
• clubbable
• unreserved
• clubable
• 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
• meagre
• slight
• niggardly
• skimp
• hand-to-mouth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enough
• sufficient
• adequate
• generous
• liberal
• abundant
• ample
• plentiful
• copious
• bountiful
• bounteous
• enlarged
• plenteous
• satisfactory
• large
• supplemented
• rich
• expanded
• tolerable
• big
• overflowing
• super
• considerable
• plenitudinous
• substantial
• lavish
• sizeable
• sizable
• oversized
• hefty
• teeming
• luxuriant
• oversize
• abounding
• jumbo
• largish
• king-sized
• 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
• disreputable
• low
• dishonorable
• ignominious
• shoddy
• opprobrious
• dirty
• louche
• unrespectable
• vicious
• wrong
• mean
• wicked
• miserable
• corrupt
• sordid
• vile
• unethical
• evil
• sinful
• contemptible
• detestable
• villainous
• unsavory
• seamy
• rotten
• base
• loose
• despicable
• nefarious
• perverted
• dissolute
• wretched
• iniquitous
• depraved
• censurable
• unrighteous
• libertine
• inglorious
• blameworthy
• blamable
• reprehensible
• degenerate
• debauched
• gamy
• debased
• gamey
• 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
• indorsed
• guiltless

shy

2 of 2

verb

as in to flinch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flinch
• shrink
• recoil
• wince
• start
• quail
• blench

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cuddle
• nuzzle
• snuggle
• curl up
• nestle
• crouch
• snoozle
• huddle

Try This Instead

For

Try This

a shy person

a timid person

an introverted person

a quiet person

a bashful person

a nervous person

a shy smile

a sheepish smile

a slight smile

a subtle smile

a nervous smile

a reluctant smile

shy creatures

reclusive creatures

stealthy creatures

solitary creatures

wary creatures

skittish creatures

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

Revenue rose to $2.03 billion from $1.64 billion a year ago, but was shy of the $2.12 billion consensus estimate from LSEG. —Tanaya MacHeel,christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 8 May 2025

That’s just one slot shy of its all-time high of No. 12. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

Verb

Priyanka Chopra in Bulgari Never one to shy away from a statement look, the actress paired a custom polka-dot skirt suit by Balmain with an emerald-and-diamond necklace from Bulgari that featured an emerald stone in the center. —Shannon Adducci, Robb Report, 5 May 2025

Despite his recent setbacks on the political stage, Koch and his fans are not shying from the fight. —Philip Elliott, Time, 2 May 2025

Phrases Containing shy

• fight shy of