shrinking violet

as in mouse
a shy or reserved person a reality show that wants shameless exhibitionists, not shrinking violets

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shrinking violet After all, a little one with a name like Valkyrie, Raven, or Justice isn’t likely to be a shrinking violet. Christin Perry, Parents, 25 Oct. 2024 On Friday, the world woke up to a new face splashed across the home page of the Daily Mail: Olivia Nuzzi, blonde, attractive, and no shrinking violet, posing at an event in her stretchy leopard-print top. Ashley Baker, airmail.news, 21 Sep. 2024 Susann Sills was no shrinking violet, says her friend Chris Solimine. Gayane Keshishyan Mendez, CBS News, 17 May 2024 The Squad members have prided themselves on not being shrinking violets. Jeff Robbins, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for shrinking violet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrinking violet
Noun
  • Recall Scotty in Star Trek IV picking up the Macintosh Plus mouse and talking to it instead of trying to move it, and then eventually having to use the keyboard.
    Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The owner squeezed her hands into the mix of kittens, moving the babies and grabbing the one that did not belong, which turned out to be a tiny mouse.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Encourage introverts and extroverts to find their inner ambivert by sharing space in a discussion.
    Linda-Marie Barrett September 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Sources close to Spence, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, described him as an introvert to The Athletic in February.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shrinking violet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrinking%20violet. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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