1
as in bashfulness
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2
as in humility
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Recent Examples of shyness
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
Cultural ambassadors, two from Greenland and two from Nunavut, led interactive presentations on language, housing, and the nuances of specific behaviors like inherent shyness and drum dancing to settle disputes.
—Jillian Dara, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026
And that eye could see past Dorothy’s drab uniform and Cindy Brady pigtails, her tall girl’s diffidence and her sweet girl’s shyness, to the bombshell smoldering underneath.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Manuel, for all his shyness, had been a regular on a recreational baseball team.
—Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2025
Although it’s still considered rare, it’s often misdiagnosed as shyness — which can delay treatment.
—Erin Silvia, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Chambers, meanwhile, is leaning into shyness on this album cycle by frequently covering her face in photos.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
This can range from occasional nerves and shyness to paralyzing fears of social situations and people.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 23 Sep. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Strategic silence is not shyness or introversion.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Cultural ambassadors, two from Greenland and two from Nunavut, led interactive presentations on language, housing, and the nuances of specific behaviors like inherent shyness and drum dancing to settle disputes.
—Jillian Dara, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026
And that eye could see past Dorothy’s drab uniform and Cindy Brady pigtails, her tall girl’s diffidence and her sweet girl’s shyness, to the bombshell smoldering underneath.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Manuel, for all his shyness, had been a regular on a recreational baseball team.
—Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2025
Although it’s still considered rare, it’s often misdiagnosed as shyness — which can delay treatment.
—Erin Silvia, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Chambers, meanwhile, is leaning into shyness on this album cycle by frequently covering her face in photos.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
This can range from occasional nerves and shyness to paralyzing fears of social situations and people.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 23 Sep. 2025
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
-
Hire for curiosity and humility.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
But to move forward, liberals will need to welcome back disillusioned voters, with grace and humility.—
Jamie Holmes,
Twin Cities,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
It is designed for conformity, internal cohesion, and minimizing embarrassment.—
Frank Lavin,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Their very existence is an embarrassment to all Americans, as well as the Native community.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
May the Spirit of God, who is truth and strength, and instils meekness and courage, sustain you.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Most Canadians want uncomplicated lives, a desire for calm that can be misinterpreted by louder people as meekness.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The Bulls took 18 fewer shots than the Celtics as a direct result of their timidity on the glass, grabbing only six offensive rebounds to Boston’s 20.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Enmired in the self-satisfactions and unnamed timidities of childhood, Galinda finds in herself neither canniness nor the need to cultivate it.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
30 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The secret to Buford’s longevity Buford expressed modesty about his service in World War II.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
25 Dec. 2025
-
With the film’s relative modesty, Jarmusch is tuning up—while also retuning the world of cinema, its critics and its viewers, to his own distinctive note and preparing them for his higher harmonics to come.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Most of those seeds require some bit of cold weather exposure or other mitigating factor to overcome the inhibition and set the stage for a more sensible spring germination.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
21 Nov. 2025
-
The key is to relax, let go of your inhibitions, and just have fun.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For McIver, the campaign’s atmosphere of resolve and sociability was intoxicating.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Practicing these three simple gestures (five different weekly contacts, three more genuine monthly exchanges, and one hour of daily sociability), awakens a part of ourselves that is too often put on the back burner or underestimated.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
27 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shyness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shyness. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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