shy, bashful, diffident, modest, coy mean not inclined to be forward. shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

Coded: 1, very reluctant or fearful; 2, shy; 3, warms up to tester; 4, immediately friendly. Partly because of the subject's political sensitivity, many scholars shy away from it. For instance, a youth who is …

If you are shy about or shy of doing something, you are unwilling to do it because you are afraid of what might happen. They feel shy about showing their feelings.

1. To move suddenly or draw back, as if startled or afraid: The horse shied at the loud sound. 2. To avoid engaging in, treating, or discussing something: "a film adaptation that would not shy away from …

Definition of shy adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Mar 13, 2026 · shy (third-person singular simple present shies, present participle shying, simple past and past participle shied) (intransitive) To avoid due to caution, embarrassment or timidness.

Elusive; hard to find, get at, obtain, or accomplish. Morally circumspect; scrupulous. Keen; piercing; bold; sharp. Sly; sharp; cunning. Scant. The wind is said to be shy when it will barely allow a vessel …

Shy means being nervous or reserved around other people, especially in a social situation. Someone who's extremely shy might blush or stammer when talking to a group of people. Shy can also mean …

Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved. A shy student who stayed in the back of the room.

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 …