Meaning & use
coyly
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a shy or modest way, often a little playfully, as if hiding feelings.
Grammar: Describes manner: she smiled coyly.
Patterns
- smile coyly
- glance coyly
- look away coyly
She smiled coyly and looked down at her shoes.
He glanced coyly at the girl across the room.
The child coyly hid behind her mother's coat.
adverbnot comparable
In a deliberately evasive way, avoiding giving a clear answer while pretending to be shy.
Grammar: Often used with refuse, decline or answer.
Patterns
- answer coyly
- decline coyly
The senator coyly refused to say if he would run.
Asked about her age, she coyly changed the subject.
The company coyly hinted at a new product.
Common combinations
- smile coyly
- He smiled coyly when they teased him.
- glance coyly
- She glanced coyly over her shoulder.
- coyly refuse
- The actor coyly refused to name his new director.
- coyly suggest
- The ad coyly suggested a surprise was coming.
- coyly avoid
- He coyly avoided the question.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shyly
- Shyly describes real nervousness, whereas coyly is often partly put on to charm.
- demurely
- Demurely suggests quiet modesty and politeness, without the teasing tone of coyly.
- evasively
- Evasively is plainly about avoiding an answer and has no flirtatious sense.
- bashfully
- Bashfully is sincerely embarrassed, while coyly can be a pretense.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: coyly or coolly? coyly or coily?
coyly vs coolly
Coolly means in a calm or unfriendly manner, not in a shy, teasing one.
coyly vs coily
Coily means curled into coils and is not related to shyness.
Practice
Asked who sent the flowers, she ___ said, "A secret admirer."
Choose one answer.
Coyly suggests playful, teasing reluctance to say more. The other adverbs do not fit the lightly evasive reply.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “coyly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.