Meaning & use
shy
Feeling nervous or timid in the company of other people, especially those one doesn't know well.
See it in a sentence
He was too shy to introduce himself to the new students on the first day.
She used to be shy, but public speaking classes helped her grow more confident.
A note on using this word
Describes a personality trait or temporary feeling, unlike introverted, which describes a preference for solitude rather than nervousness.
Words with a similar meaning
timidbashful
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. verb
To move suddenly away from something out of fear, especially said of a horse.
The horse shied at the sudden crack of thunder.
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