1
as in bashfulness
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2
as in humility
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Recent Examples of shyness
In Atlanta, some people living with SAD, as well as social phobia or even simple shyness, are facing their fears in a novel way.
—
Hunter Boyce, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
But shyness and cluelessness kept me from making my rendezvous with the guy that was to aid in that connection.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
His quiet tone is not shyness or false modesty but circumspection and a sense of boundaries that imply respect and love for real communication.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Her name is Minnie, but her shyness leans toward the mousy, though no one would ever say that to her, least of all her beloved and extremely outgoing best friend, Callie (Chloe Coleman).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Consider signing up for Toastmasters, a longstanding organization that helps people to break through their shyness and become strong public speakers and communicators.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Many in Syria’s dissident circles at first found Bashar’s awkwardness and shyness appealing.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
But terpsichorean shyness isn’t Josh’s problem.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Strategic silence is not shyness or introversion.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Hunter Boyce, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
But shyness and cluelessness kept me from making my rendezvous with the guy that was to aid in that connection.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
His quiet tone is not shyness or false modesty but circumspection and a sense of boundaries that imply respect and love for real communication.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Her name is Minnie, but her shyness leans toward the mousy, though no one would ever say that to her, least of all her beloved and extremely outgoing best friend, Callie (Chloe Coleman).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Consider signing up for Toastmasters, a longstanding organization that helps people to break through their shyness and become strong public speakers and communicators.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Many in Syria’s dissident circles at first found Bashar’s awkwardness and shyness appealing.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
But terpsichorean shyness isn’t Josh’s problem.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Strategic silence is not shyness or introversion.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shyness
Noun
-
Her skin—something known as Frubber, a porous patented blend of fleshlike elastic polymers—stretched over a structure of plastic and titanium, and there was no flicker of bashfulness.—
Dan Turello,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Growth requires humility, not defensiveness.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The wolf is humility, and the turtle is truth.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Pok rounded his building's corner, head down, embarrassment pounding at his ears and rain pelting the nape of his neck.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Studies have found that embarrassment around menstruation remains common, with many girls reporting anxiety about leaks, staining or being noticed by peers.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Such meekness is understandable from him.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Likewise, meekness once meant not becoming weak, but subjugating power to reason – not letting anger take control.—
Timothy J. Pawl,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But German timidity before Israel’s moral blackmail only partly explains Habermas’s callous attitude toward the country’s Palestinian victims.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Even in the face of Hollywood’s timidity, some American independent animators have managed to push their offbeat visions through as features made with limited resources.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Their genuine modesty and humility was really exciting to show.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
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His epistemological modesty produced a spirit of caution.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each spring, otherwise reasonable home cooks lose all inhibitions at the first sight of ramps at the farmers market.—
Kelly Vaughan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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Metallica plays on the stereo while Garcia and Huerta operate like two rock stars with no inhibitions in the kitchen.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This ancient beverage, derived from the roots of the Piper methysticum plant, is typically consumed to produce sedative and euphoric effects that might increase sociability and reduce anxiety.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Takefumi explored whether dog ownership could affect sociability by exposing mice to the oral microbiomes found in the dog-owning group, then assessed their social behaviors.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shyness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shyness. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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