coyly

American  

[koi-lee] / ˈkɔɪ li /

adverb

1. in a hesitant or indirect manner.

   The painting shows an eighteenth-century lady flirting with a coyly blushing young knight.

2. in a shy or modest manner.

   She read the note and thanked him coyly.

3. in a way that shows usually insincere or affected reluctance.

   When asked about the movie, she coyly replied, "It's a big secret; I’m not going to tell anybody."

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Other Word Forms

• overcoyly adverb
• uncoyly adverb

Etymology

Origin of coyly

coy ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

At that awards show, when former Times columnist Amy Kaufman asked the actor if she was engaged, Zendaya flashed her ring, smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders.

From Los Angeles Times

At that awards show, when former Times columnist Amy Kaufman — then recently engaged herself — asked the “Dune” actor flat-out if she was engaged, Zendaya flashed her ring, smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders.

From Los Angeles Times

Larger questions are left coyly unresolved so that we leave the theater uneasy.

From Los Angeles Times

The result was more coyly cute than imaginatively witty.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Well, he's a top dog in 2025 - absolutely, yeah," Shearer replies coyly, before the pair and Gary Lineker erupt into fits of giggles.

From BBC