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Synonyms
shy1 (shī)

[Middle English schey, from Old English scēoh.]

adjective: shi·er (shī́ər) or shy·er, shi·est (shī́ĭst) 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.

intransitive verb: shied (shīd), shy·ing, shies (shīz) 

  1. To move suddenly, as if startled; start.
  2. To draw back, as from fear or caution; recoil.

noun: pl., shies (shīz) 

A sudden movement, as from fright; a start.

derivatives

shýer
noun
shýly
adverb
shýness
noun

synonyms:

shy1bashful, diffident, modest, coy, demure 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 One who is shy draws back from others, either because of a withdrawn nature or out of timidity: “The poor man was shy and hated society” (George Bernard Shaw) Bashful suggests self-consciousness or awkwardness in the presence of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.
shy2 (shī)

[Perhaps from shy1.]

verb: shied (shīd), shy·ing, shies (shīz) 

transitive verb 

To throw (something) with a swift motion; fling.

intransitive verb 

To throw something with a swift motion.

noun: pl., shies (shīz) 

  1. A quick throw; a fling.
  2. Informal A gibe; a sneer.
  3. Informal An attempt; a try.