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shy
4 dictionary results for: Shyer
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
shy1       [shahy] Pronunciation Key adjective, shy·er or shi·er, shy·est or shi·est, verb, shied, shy·ing, noun, plural shies.
–adjective
1.bashful; retiring.
2.easily frightened away; timid.
3.suspicious; distrustful: I am a bit shy of that sort of person.
4.reluctant; wary.
5.deficient: shy of funds.
6.scant; short of a full amount or number: still a few dollars shy of our goal; an inch shy of being six feet.
7.(in poker) indebted to the pot.
8.not bearing or breeding freely, as plants or animals.
–verb (used without object)
9.(esp. of a horse) to start back or aside, as in fear.
10.to draw back; recoil.
–noun
11.a sudden start aside, as in fear.
—Idiom
12.fight shy of, to keep away from; avoid: She fought shy of making the final decision.
[Origin: bef. 1000; late ME schey (adj.), early ME scheowe, OE scéoh; c. MHG schiech; akin to D schuw, G scheu; cf. eschew]

—Related forms
shyer, noun
shyly, adverb
shyness, noun

—Synonyms 1. Shy, bashful, diffident imply a manner that shows discomfort or lack of confidence in association with others. Shy implies a constitutional shrinking from contact or close association with others, together with a wish to escape notice: shy and retiring. Bashful suggests timidity about meeting others, and trepidation and awkward behavior when brought into prominence or notice: a bashful child. Diffident emphasizes self-distrust, fear of censure, failure, etc., and a hesitant, tentative manner as a consequence: a diffident approach to a touchy subject. 4. heedful, cautious, chary. 10. shrink.
—Antonyms 1. forward. 2. trusting. 4. careless. 10. advance.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
shi·er2       [shahy-er] Pronunciation Key
–noun
a horse having a tendency to shy.
Also, shyer.

[Origin: 1820–30; shy1 + -er1]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
shy2       [shahy] Pronunciation Key verb, shied, shy·ing, noun, plural shies.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1.to throw with a swift, sudden movement: to shy a stone.
–noun
2.a quick, sudden throw.
3.Informal.
a.a gibe or sneer.
b.a try.
[Origin: 1780–90; orig. uncert.]

—Related forms
shyer, noun

—Synonyms 1. toss, pitch, fling, cast, flip.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
shy 1       (shī)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.   shi·er (shī'ər) or shy·er, shi·est (shī'ĭst) or shy·est
  1. Easily startled; timid.
    1. Drawing back from contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved.
    2. Marked by reserve or diffidence: a shy glance.
  3. Distrustful; wary: shy of strangers.
  4. Not having paid an amount due, as one's ante in poker.
  5. Short; lacking: Eleven is one shy of a dozen.

intr.v.   shied (shīd), shy·ing, shies (shīz)
  1. To move suddenly, as if startled; start.
  2. To draw back, as from fear or caution; recoil.

n.   pl. shies (shīz)
A sudden movement, as from fright; a start.


[Middle English schey, from Old English scēoh.]

shy'er n., shy'ly adv., shy'ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean not forward but marked by a retiring nature, reticence, or a reserve of manner. One who is shy draws back from others, either because of a withdrawn nature or out of timidity: "The poor man was shy and hated society" (George Bernard Shaw).
Bashful suggests self-consciousness or awkwardness in the presence of others: "I never laughed, being bashful./Lowering my head, I looked at the wall" (Ezra Pound).
Diffident implies lack of self-confidence: He was too diffident to express his opinion.
Modest is associated with an unassertive nature and absence of vanity or pretension: Despite her fame she remained a modest, unassuming person.
Coy usually implies feigned, often flirtatious shyness: "yielded with coy submission" (John Milton).
Demure often denotes an affected shyness or modesty: Her assistant nodded in agreement, flashing a demure smile.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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