shier

¹ American

[shahy-er] / ˈʃaɪ ər /

adjective

a comparative of shy.

shier ² American

[shahy-er] / ˈʃaɪ ər /

Or shyer

noun

a horse having a tendency to shy.

shier ¹ British

/ ˈʃaɪə /

adjective

a comparative of shy 1

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

shier ² British

/ ˈʃaɪə /

noun

a horse that shies habitually

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of shier

First recorded in 1820–30; shy ¹ + -er ¹

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.

“Mabel 2 is much shier and has more wildness in her,” so she was used in the nervous bird scenes early on.

From Los Angeles Times

“I just loved it. It was a natural fit. I think it’s good for any child, to be honest, for confidence. I was on the shier side.”

From Los Angeles Times

She is quieter — shier? more coy? — than her squawking chums.

From Seattle Times

She is quieter - shier? more coy? - than her squawking chums.

From Washington Times

The tall, skinny one who was shier than his brother but who always had a kind word to spare?

From The Guardian

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023