bashful

[bash-fuhl]

adjective

1. uncomfortably diffident and easily embarrassed; shy; timid.

   Synonyms: modest, abashed

2. indicative of, accompanied by, or proceeding from bashfulness.

bashful

/ ˈbæʃfʊl /

adjective

1. disposed to attempt to avoid notice through shyness or modesty; diffident; timid

2. indicating or characterized by shyness or modesty

Other Word Forms

• bashfully adverb
• bashfulness noun
• overbashful adjective
• overbashfully adverb
• overbashfulness noun
• unbashful adjective
• unbashfully adverb
• unbashfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bashful¹

First recorded in 1540–50; (a)bash + -ful

Word History and Origins

Origin of bashful¹

C16: from bash , short for _abash + _-ful

Synonym Study

See shy ¹.

Example Sentences

I glare at Woo, who puts his hands up and gives a bashful “Woo?”

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The girl sounded uncharacteristically bashful as she offered her gift.

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While Jimmie had been very social and outgoing, Jim was a bit bashful, a loner, very quiet, and liked to read.

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But when you ask them about all that success, the octet are suddenly bashful.

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For “Task,” Jones asked her bashful but patient scene partner to redo one scene, an explosive fight Maeve has with Robbie, quite a few times, eager to get the perfect take.

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Related Words

• confused 
• coy 
• diffident 
• embarrassed www.thesaurus.com
• reticent 
• self-conscious 
• sheepish 
• timid