Being shy doesn’t always have to be a negative thing. A lot of people find it endearing or appealing in their own ways. This article will look into some good words that you can use to describe a shy and quiet person without worrying about insulting them for their personality.
The best words to describe a shy person are “reserved,” “modest,” and “unobtrusive.” Each of these words can be a bit more specific, relating to their personality traits, but they’re all solid when showing that someone is quiet. You can use them to be positive about their characteristics.
Reserved
“Reserved” is a great way of showing that someone is shy. You can use it to show that they tend to keep to themselves. Reserved people also like to hide their private thoughts and feelings, only sharing them with the people they are closest with.
The definition of “reserved,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “tending to keep your feelings or thoughts private rather than showing them.”
- I know that he’s quite reserved, but I think I like that about him. It shows that he’s always keeping himself to himself.
- I like being more reserved than most. I’ve never really understood the appeal of parties or gatherings when I don’t want to be there.
- He is quite reserved, so you might have a difficult time getting him to talk. He’s a lovely guy, though, so make sure you treat him well.
Modest
“Modest” is a great way to show that someone likes to keep things to themselves. They will also not celebrate their own achievements much because they worry that it might be construed as cocky (which is the last thing a shy person wants).
The definition of “modest,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “not usually talking about or making obvious your own abilities and achievements.”
- I don’t mean to come across as modest all the time, but I really don’t know how I’m supposed to act in these situations.
- You’re the most modest person I’ve ever met. I really like that about you because it shows that you’re under no illusions about yourself.
- You’re too modest for your own good! Sometimes, it would help for you to look at yourself in a slightly more positive light. I swear!
Unobtrusive
“Unobtrusive” is a good way of showing that someone doesn’t get in the way. Shy people often do things to avoid being the center of attention. They’re much happier just to fit in on the sidelines rather than coming forward.
“Unobtrusive” is a good way of showing that someone is happy to sit back in a group. While they’re still included as part of the group, they will often let other people take the limelight away from them.
The definition of “unobtrusive,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “not noticeable; seeming to fit in well with the things around.”
- I’m unobtrusive at the best of times. I don’t like getting in the way or stepping on anyone’s toes, so I try and avoid doing that.
- You’re quite unobtrusive, so you’re free to come along as well. We really like having the company, and you never seem to complain.
- He’s really unobtrusive. I think he’s one of my favorite people to have in the class because he just lets himself get on with the work.
Subtle
“Subtle” shows that someone isn’t loud. They will often do things quietly or away from prying eyes because they don’t like to be obvious about the things they choose to do. They’re much happier keeping to themselves.
The definition of “subtle,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “not loud, bright, noticeable, or obvious.”
- As a subtle girl, she’s always keeping herself to herself. I think it’s quite hard to get anything out of her, to be honest.
- I know you’re quite subtle in how you carry yourself, and I really like that about you. I just wish you’d open up to me a little more, you know?
- He’s a very subtle guy, but that’s why so many of the girls like him. They think he’s a mystery that they need to solve.
Unassuming
“Unassuming” can work well to refer to shy people. It shows that someone is quiet and doesn’t like to attract attention. Shy people struggle when the attention is on them, which is why it pays for them to be unassuming.
The definition of “unassuming,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “quiet and not attracting attention.”
- Without coming across as too unassuming, I really don’t feel like joining in with this team project today. Do you mind if I sit it out?
- You’re quite unassuming, which can be both positive and negative. It really depends on whether we need you to talk and help out.
- I thought you were more unassuming than that. I’m quite impressed to learn that you do have a voice for yourself.
Discreet
“Discreet” is another great way to show that someone is keeping the attention away from themselves. This works well to refer to a shy person because it shows that they are doing things in discreet ways to avoid embarrassment or questioning.
The last thing a shy person wants to feel is embarrassment in a social situation. That’s why it works well to use “discreet.”
The definition of “discreet,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “careful not to cause embarrassment or attract too much attention, especially by keeping something secret.”
- I like being discreet in social situations. I feel much more comfortable when I’m not doing silly things that might draw attention to myself.
- You don’t have to be so discreet all the time. You do know that most of these people are fond of you, and nobody will laugh at you.
- I thought you came across as quite discreet. It’s about time that you try and fix that. You’ll make a lot more friends that way.
Restrained
“Restrained” can be a good way of referring to a shy person. It shows that someone is always acting calm and controlled. Sometimes, this is a deliberate and active choice. Other times, it’s because shy people don’t know how else to act.
You’ll often find that shy people are the most “controlled” in their groups. This is usually because they don’t have the capacity to be loud, spontaneous, or embarrassing. They will always be a good voice of reason.
The definition of “restrained,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “acting in a calm and controlled way.”
- I’m very restrained because I never feel like I know the right thing to say. I’m always worried that I might say something to offend someone.
- You’re very restrained, and I like that about you. It shows that you’re careful with your words, and you always think first.
- He’s a restrained young man, so he can be difficult to talk with. I wish you the best of luck in trying to break through his walls.
Soft-Spoken
“Soft-spoken” shows that someone speaks softly. They might have a quiet voice by nature or by choice. Usually, you’ll find that people who speak quietly like this are the shiest people in their friend groups.
The definition of “soft-spoken,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “having a quiet, pleasant voice.”
- She’s very soft-spoken, and I think that’s cute. I would really like to get to know her a bit more to see what she’s all about.
- You’re soft-spoken, and that’s okay. You don’t have to try and compete to be the loudest voice in the room. It’s okay to be quiet.
- I’m too soft-spoken to be heard most of the time. I understand that other people are louder than me, and I’ve come to terms with that.
Quiet
“Quiet” is a good way of referring to a shy person. It can be both positive and negative, depending on whether you need them to help you out or whether you’re okay with their quiet demeanor.
The definition of “quiet,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “making very little noise.”
- Am I quiet? I always thought I was quite confident, but now it appears that I’m one of the quieter people in my circles.
- You’re a quiet guy, but we don’t mind that. We like it when you tag along because you’re always able to keep us in check.
- I thought you were quite quiet, but there’s nothing wrong with that. It just takes time to build up some confidence to talk with us.
Reflective
“Reflective” shows that someone thinks a lot about the things they say. They will often be the quieter people in groups because they’ll be too busy thinking about what to say next.
This trait helps reflective people to say the right thing (most of the time). They’ll only speak when they know they have something good to say or add, which is always an admirable quality.
The definition of “reflective,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “thinking carefully and quietly.”
- I know you’re a reflective guy, and I really need you to help me out. I think you’ll be able to come up with a good solution to my problem.
- I’m quite reflective, which is the only reason why I don’t say much. I’m always lost in my own thoughts, I’m afraid.
- You are reflective, and that’s a really good thing. It shows that you’ll always think before you speak. I admire that.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
How does the adjective shy contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of shy are bashful, coy, diffident, and modest. While all these words mean «not inclined to be forward,» shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.
When can bashful be used instead of shy?
The words bashful and shy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.
a bashful boy out on his first date
When might coy be a better fit than shy?
While the synonyms coy and shy are close in meaning, coy implies a pretended shyness.
put off by her coy manner
In what contexts can diffident take the place of shy?
In some situations, the words diffident and shy are roughly equivalent. However, diffident stresses a distrust of one’s own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking.
felt diffident about raising an objection
When could modest be used to replace shy?
The meanings of modest and shy largely overlap; however, modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.
Table of Contents
- What can I say instead of shy?
- What do you call a shy person?
- What T is another word for being shy and scared?
- What is a good nickname for a girl?
- Is a introvert?
- How do you tell if an introvert loves you?
- Do introverts miss their ex?
- Are introverts immature?
- Will my introvert ex come back?
- How do you know if an introvert doesn’t like you?
- Do introverts have anger issues?
- Why do introverts stare?
- Do introverts avoid eye contact?
- How do introverts act when they like someone?
- Should I text an introvert first?
In this page you can discover 105 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for shy, like: bashful, timid, humble, timorous, diffident, coy, cautious, restrained, hesitant, introverted and modest.
What can I say instead of shy?
other words for shy
- cautious.
- demure.
- diffident.
- fearful.
- hesitant.
- introverted.
- reticent.
- wary.
What do you call a shy person?
What is another word for shy person?
| shrinking violet | mouse |
|---|---|
| introvert | wallflower |
| retiring person | shy thing |
| modest violet |
What T is another word for being shy and scared?
timorous
What is a good nickname for a girl?
Cute Nicknames For Girlfriends
- Babe.
- Love.
- Beautiful.
- Princess.
- Buttercup.
- Cutie pie.
- Dream girl.
- Love bug.
Is a introvert?
An introvert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as introversion, which means that they feel more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what’s happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds.
How do you tell if an introvert loves you?
5 Signs That an Introvert Cares About You
- They accept your invitation. Introverts accept social invitations with caution, picking and choosing what’s important to attend.
- They call you, and actually answer when you call.
- They open up to you.
- They put down their book.
- They actually speak aloud words of affection to you.
Do introverts miss their ex?
But breakups are typically worse for introverts than extroverts. It’s not that extroverts don’t miss their exes just as much as introverts do, it’s that extroverts’ addiction to socializing means they’ll be out playing the field again in no time. In fact, they’re probably looking forward to getting out there again.
Are introverts immature?
There are immature introverts just like there are immature extroverts. The immature extroverts are just more noticeable due to their way stronger need to be social. We may have different responses to situations and maybe immature in different ways, but I do not feel like one is more mature on average than the other.
Will my introvert ex come back?
An introvert will pull back from any relationship more than an extrovert so they can recharge– since they get their energy back when they’re alone. An introvert’s need for space requires patience all the time, but even more than usual when you’re trying to get them back.
How do you know if an introvert doesn’t like you?
Here’s how to tell if you’ve pissed them off:
- The Introvert Responds With One Word.
- The Introvert Doesn’t Return Your Calls.
- The Introvert Pretends Everything Is Okay.
- The Introvert Blows Up Over Small Things.
- The Introvert Refuses Help.
- Apathy.
- The Introvert Retreats Into Their Work.
Do introverts have anger issues?
Being true to their behavioral pattern, introverts rarely become angry. It is so contradictory to the expression they always have on their face. Nevertheless, when you see an introvert getting real angry – run for your lives. Introverts usually don’t express themselves, and it is true for their anger as well.
Why do introverts stare?
Introverts prefer to admire you from a distance by staring at you and since they are not expert in hiding their feelings, you could easier catch them staring at you. When an introvert is interested in you, he admires you and thinks of the both of you in his reality. This drives him to steal glances at you.
Shifty eyes give the impression that you are lying or distracted. Many introverts are prone to breaking eye contact when they speak. We do this in order to formulate our thoughts. To have a greater impact, try to make eye contact every few seconds as you talk.
How do introverts act when they like someone?
They Change Their Behavior When They’re Around You But when an introvert really likes someone, they will place most of their attention on them. There are other ways they might alter their behavior as well. They might seem more awkward or nervous, less talkative, or more upbeat when around you compared to other people.
Should I text an introvert first?
Having a more patient approach towards texting an introvert is the key. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t text at all because, as mentioned before, introverts appreciate your texts. If anything, they don’t want you to stop texting them first, even though they won’t always respond.
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Plan
- 1 What is another word for a shy person?
- 2 What does living cheek by jowl mean?
- 3 What does latch on mean?
- 4 How do I know if latch is correct?
- 5 What does good latch feel like?
- 6 Does baby still get milk with a bad latch?
- 7 What is the average age to stop breastfeeding?
- 8 Is it normal to breastfeed a 5 year old?
- 9 Can you exclusively breastfeed for 2 years?
- 10 Can I just breastfeed and not pump?
- 11 Can I breastfeed and do formula?
Some common synonyms of shy are bashful, coy, diffident, and modest.
Why do you fight shy of me?
avoid something or doing something; not want to do something: I tend to fight shy of getting involved in protests, but in this case I feel very strongly that we should complain.
What does living cheek by jowl mean?
phrase. If you say that people or things are cheek by jowl with each other, you are indicating that they are very close to each other. She and her family have to live cheek by jowl with these people. [
What does it mean to be called upon?
to ask formally for someone to do something: call on/upon sb to do sth They called on the company to reverse its decision. If you’re ever called upon at work to give a talk, the very prospect of ‘getting up there in front of all those people’ can be intimidating.
What does latch on mean?
1 : to grab and hold (something) He latched onto her arm and wouldn’t let go. —often used figuratively The news media has latched on to the scandal.
How do you fix latching problems?
Holding and swaddling your child or moving to a quiet area and dimming the lights can also help. Gently squeeze a few drops of breast milk onto your breast right before you try to get your baby to latch. The smell and taste of the milk can encourage your baby to feed.
How do I know if latch is correct?
Signs that confirm a good latch:
- The tongue is seen when the bottom lip is pulled down.
- Ears wiggle.
- There is a circular movement of the jaw rather than rapid chin movement.
- Cheeks are rounded.
- You do not hear a clicking or smacking noises.
- You can hear swallowing.
- Chin is touching your breast.
Can a good latch still hurt?
When breastfeeding hurts, even with a good latch For many of us, the initial pain and discomfort of breastfeeding are actually normal.
What does good latch feel like?
A proper latch should feel like a pull/tugging sensation, not painful, pinching or clamping down (and definitely not “toe-curling, worse than labor, can’t stand this another second” pain). Is baby’s mouth wide open at the corner of her lips? This is also a good sign!
How do I get a perfect latch?
Getting a good latch
- Create a calm environment first. Recline on pillows or other comfortable area.
- Hold your baby skin-to-skin. Hold your baby, wearing only a diaper, against your bare chest.
- Let your baby lead.
- Support your baby, but don’t force the latch.
- Allow your breast to hang naturally.
Does baby still get milk with a bad latch?
Without a proper latch, your baby will not get the milk she needs and your breasts won’t be stimulated to produce more, initiating a vicious cycle of poor milk demand and poor milk supply. What’s more, your breastfeeding nipples may become cracked and mighty painful when the latch isn’t right.
Is it OK to breastfeed every 4 hours?
Over the first few weeks and months, the time between feedings will start to get longer— on average about every 2 to 4 hours for most exclusively breastfed babies. Some babies may feed as often as every hour at times, often called cluster feeding, or may have a longer sleep interval of 4 to 5 hours.
What is the average age to stop breastfeeding?
The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for six months, then gradually introduced to appropriate family foods after six months while continuing to breastfeed for two years or beyond. Some babies decrease the number of breastfeeds as they begin to be able to digest solid food.
Is it normal to breastfeed a 7 year old?
But people should be informed that nursing a 6-7+year-old is a perfectly normal and natural and healthy thing to be doing for the child, and that their fears of emotional harm are baseless.”
Is it normal to breastfeed a 5 year old?
For the rest of the world it’s very common that toddlers 4 to 5 years old still are nursed by moms for bonding and health reasons. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding babies up to two years, precisely because of the breast-cancer-prevention benefits.
What are the disadvantages of breastfeeding?
Here are the commonly talked about disadvantages of breastfeeding:
- Breastfed babies need to be fed more often.
- There are dietary restrictions.
- Nursing in public isn’t always fun.
- It can be uncomfortable and painful.
- You don’t know how much milk baby is getting.
- You need special clothing to breastfeed.
Can you exclusively breastfeed for 2 years?
How long to continue breastfeeding for is a personal decision for each family to make. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding (i.e. no other fluids or solids) for six months and then continued breastfeeding combined with solid foods for 2 years or as long as mother and baby desire.
Is pumping the same as nursing?
Should you pump or breastfeed? Both breastfeeding and pumping are excellent ways to feed a baby breast milk. Breast milk is the natural food for infants, and pumping can offer benefits that are similar, although not identical, to providing breast milk directly from the breast.
Can I just breastfeed and not pump?
In most cases when breastfeeding is going well you will not need to pump your breast milk. If you do need to express milk occasionally due to engorgement or because you need to leave some milk for your baby while you’re apart; hand expression can work very well.
Is it OK to breastfeed for only 3 months?
Most moms who want to exclusively breastfeed their baby for 3 months fail. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding as the only form of food or drink until babies reach six months old, and adds that breastfeeding can be a supplemental food source for children up to two years old and older.
Can I breastfeed and do formula?
Giving your baby formula in addition to breastfeeding is called supplementing. It’s completely OK and perfectly safe to do, and many families choose this type of combination feeding method, whether out of necessity (e.g., low breast milk supply), convenience, or simply a personal choice.
What is another word for shy person?
8 synonyms found
Pronunciation:
[ ʃˈa͡ɪ pˈɜːsən], [ ʃˈaɪ pˈɜːsən], [ ʃ_ˈaɪ p_ˈɜː_s_ə_n]
Table of Contents
-
n.
• Other relevant words: (noun)
- coward,
- shrinking violet.
• shrinking violet (noun)
- mouse,
- shy thing,
- modest violet,
- retiring person.
-
Other synonyms:
• Other relevant words:
- shy.
• Other relevant words (noun):
- introvert.
How to use «Shy person» in context?
There are a few things that most shy people have in common. They tend to be introverted, have a low self-confidence and are often frightened of new situations. They may also have trouble making friends, speaking up or being assertive. Shyness can develop at any age, but is most common in adolescents and young adults. There is no single cause for shyness, but it often stems from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some people are shy because they were raised in a family where being outgoing was not prioritized. Other shy people may have difficulty socializing due to a disability or a situation that is triggering for them.
Homophones for Shy person:
- sick person, sparganium, suffragan, Seborrheic Eczema, spray gun, schizophragma, sovereign, suppression, sporozoan, supersession, spray can, seaborgium, suffragism, subversion.
What can I say instead of shy?
other words for shy
- cautious.
- demure.
- diffident.
- fearful.
- hesitant.
- introverted.
- reticent.
- wary.
What do you call a shy person?
What is another word for shy person?
| shrinking violet | mouse |
|---|---|
| introvert | wallflower |
| retiring person | shy thing |
| modest violet |
What is a positive word for shy?
In this page you can discover 105 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for shy, like: bashful, timid, humble, timorous, diffident, coy, cautious, restrained, hesitant, introverted and modest.
What T is another word for being shy and scared?
timorous
What is a good nickname for a girl?
Cute Nicknames For Girlfriends
- Babe.
- Love.
- Beautiful.
- Princess.
- Buttercup.
- Cutie pie.
- Dream girl.
- Love bug.
Is a introvert?
An introvert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as introversion, which means that they feel more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what’s happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds.
How do you tell if an introvert loves you?
5 Signs That an Introvert Cares About You
- They accept your invitation. Introverts accept social invitations with caution, picking and choosing what’s important to attend.
- They call you, and actually answer when you call.
- They open up to you.
- They put down their book.
- They actually speak aloud words of affection to you.
Do introverts miss their ex?
But breakups are typically worse for introverts than extroverts. It’s not that extroverts don’t miss their exes just as much as introverts do, it’s that extroverts’ addiction to socializing means they’ll be out playing the field again in no time. In fact, they’re probably looking forward to getting out there again.
Are introverts immature?
There are immature introverts just like there are immature extroverts. The immature extroverts are just more noticeable due to their way stronger need to be social. We may have different responses to situations and maybe immature in different ways, but I do not feel like one is more mature on average than the other.
Will my introvert ex come back?
An introvert will pull back from any relationship more than an extrovert so they can recharge– since they get their energy back when they’re alone. An introvert’s need for space requires patience all the time, but even more than usual when you’re trying to get them back.
How do you know if an introvert doesn’t like you?
Here’s how to tell if you’ve pissed them off:
- The Introvert Responds With One Word.
- The Introvert Doesn’t Return Your Calls.
- The Introvert Pretends Everything Is Okay.
- The Introvert Blows Up Over Small Things.
- The Introvert Refuses Help.
- Apathy.
- The Introvert Retreats Into Their Work.
Do introverts have anger issues?
Being true to their behavioral pattern, introverts rarely become angry. It is so contradictory to the expression they always have on their face. Nevertheless, when you see an introvert getting real angry – run for your lives. Introverts usually don’t express themselves, and it is true for their anger as well.
Why do introverts stare?
Introverts prefer to admire you from a distance by staring at you and since they are not expert in hiding their feelings, you could easier catch them staring at you. When an introvert is interested in you, he admires you and thinks of the both of you in his reality. This drives him to steal glances at you.
Do introverts avoid eye contact?
Shifty eyes give the impression that you are lying or distracted. Many introverts are prone to breaking eye contact when they speak. We do this in order to formulate our thoughts. To have a greater impact, try to make eye contact every few seconds as you talk.
How do introverts act when they like someone?
They Change Their Behavior When They’re Around You But when an introvert really likes someone, they will place most of their attention on them. There are other ways they might alter their behavior as well. They might seem more awkward or nervous, less talkative, or more upbeat when around you compared to other people.
Should I text an introvert first?
Having a more patient approach towards texting an introvert is the key. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t text at all because, as mentioned before, introverts appreciate your texts. If anything, they don’t want you to stop texting them first, even though they won’t always respond.