4 entries found for shy.
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shy[1,adjective] shy[2,verb] shy[3,noun] gun-shy

Main Entry: ¹shy
Pronunciation: sh
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): shi·er or shy·er /sh(-)r/; shi·est or shy·est /sh-st/
1 a : easily frightened : TIMID b : not feeling comfortable around people : not wanting or able to call attention to oneself
2 : having less than a full or an expected amount or number <we were about ten dollars shy of our goal>
- shy·ly adverb
- shy·ness noun
synonyms SHY, BASHFUL, DIFFIDENT mean feeling awkward around others. SHY suggests not wanting to meet or talk with people either by habit or for special reasons <at the new school I was shy at first>. BASHFUL suggests being shy and afraid like a very young child <they were bashful and would hide when company came>. DIFFIDENT suggests not putting oneself forward because of a lack of self-confidence <in art class he was diffident about his work>.