adjective
-
disposed to attempt to avoid notice through shyness or modesty; diffident; timid
-
indicating or characterized by shyness or modesty
Synonym Usage
See shy 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bashful
Explanation
Bashful means shy or timid. You might feel bashful when meeting a famous actress, a high-ranking government official, or just someone whom you find really good-looking. Bashful and shy are similar in meaning, but not quite identical. Bashful often describes people who are shy but friendly. In fact, being bashful is sometimes seen as an endearing quality. So, you probably wouldn't use bashful to describe a quiet, reserved coworker with whom you have little contact; shy would be a better fit. However, bashful is a perfect description for your good friend who unfortunately becomes tongue-tied whenever she tries to talk to strangers.
Vocabulary lists containing bashful
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Where the Red Fern Grows
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Much Ado About Nothing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The writer and actress announced the birth of her daughter in an op-ed published by Vogue on Wednesday, where she wrote she was "bashful and dizzy with joy".
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
“I’ll be honest,” Carr said with a bashful smile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026
"Now our street is almost full, and more people are on their way," she said with an incredulous laugh, a bashful smile lighting up her face.
From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026
The hosts are not bashful about having conflicts of interest.
From Slate ● Apr. 7, 2026
Then Albert comes to my rescue, he is not bashful, it makes no difference to him who is upset.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
