1
as in bashfulness
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2
as in humility
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Recent Examples of shyness
In Atlanta, some people living with SAD, as well as social phobia or even simple shyness, are facing their fears in a novel way.
—
Hunter Boyce, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
But shyness and cluelessness kept me from making my rendezvous with the guy that was to aid in that connection.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
His quiet tone is not shyness or false modesty but circumspection and a sense of boundaries that imply respect and love for real communication.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Her name is Minnie, but her shyness leans toward the mousy, though no one would ever say that to her, least of all her beloved and extremely outgoing best friend, Callie (Chloe Coleman).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Consider signing up for Toastmasters, a longstanding organization that helps people to break through their shyness and become strong public speakers and communicators.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Many in Syria’s dissident circles at first found Bashar’s awkwardness and shyness appealing.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
But terpsichorean shyness isn’t Josh’s problem.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Strategic silence is not shyness or introversion.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Hunter Boyce, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
But shyness and cluelessness kept me from making my rendezvous with the guy that was to aid in that connection.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
His quiet tone is not shyness or false modesty but circumspection and a sense of boundaries that imply respect and love for real communication.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Her name is Minnie, but her shyness leans toward the mousy, though no one would ever say that to her, least of all her beloved and extremely outgoing best friend, Callie (Chloe Coleman).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Consider signing up for Toastmasters, a longstanding organization that helps people to break through their shyness and become strong public speakers and communicators.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Many in Syria’s dissident circles at first found Bashar’s awkwardness and shyness appealing.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
But terpsichorean shyness isn’t Josh’s problem.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Strategic silence is not shyness or introversion.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shyness
Noun
-
Her skin—something known as Frubber, a porous patented blend of fleshlike elastic polymers—stretched over a structure of plastic and titanium, and there was no flicker of bashfulness.—
Dan Turello,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Your legacy, as it is being formed daily, reflects division rather than love, harm rather than healing, and self-exaltation rather than humility.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Chief among his enviable traits is probably his humility.—
LeVar Burton,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The nonprofit Bike New York offers free instruction and groups everyone by age to avoid embarrassment.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
16 Apr. 2026
-
When appealing to a congressional answering machine fails, perhaps public embarrassment is the most effective lever to pull.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Such meekness is understandable from him.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Likewise, meekness once meant not becoming weak, but subjugating power to reason – not letting anger take control.—
Timothy J. Pawl,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This idea of reasonableness is easily caricatured as moral timidity or a bloodless neutrality that drains politics of passion.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
But our delay and our timidity continue to cause unimaginable human suffering.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His athletic testing, however, lacked modesty.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Their genuine modesty and humility was really exciting to show.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
However, the unique culture of our city often overpowers these inhibitions, and the sight of NYPD officers patrolling as modern-day knights on horseback is a reassuring testament to that strength.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Whereas Phoebe lacks inhibitions, Valerie is plagued by them, and the contrasting sitcom formats of Friends (multi-cam) and The Comeback (mockumentary) call for totally different performance styles.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This ancient beverage, derived from the roots of the Piper methysticum plant, is typically consumed to produce sedative and euphoric effects that might increase sociability and reduce anxiety.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Takefumi explored whether dog ownership could affect sociability by exposing mice to the oral microbiomes found in the dog-owning group, then assessed their social behaviors.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shyness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shyness. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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