definitions

shier

1
[ shahy-er ]
/ ˈʃaɪ ər /
|

adjective

a compar. of shy1.

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RELATED WORDS

reticent, wary, cautious, diffident, demure, hesitant, introverted, fearful, nervous, humble, bashful, coy, modest, sheepish, circumspect, apprehensive, self-effacing, suspicious, timid, afraid

Nearby words

shield match, shield volcano, shield-tailed snake, shields, shieling, shier, shiest, shift, shift bid, shift for oneself, shift key

Definition for shier (2 of 3)

shier

2

or shy·er

[ shahy-er ]
/ ˈʃaɪ ər /

noun

a horse having a tendency to shy.

Origin of shier

2
First recorded in 1820–30; shy1 + -er1

Definition for shier (3 of 3)

shy

1
[ shahy ]
/ ʃaɪ /

adjective, shy·er or shi·er, shy·est or shi·est.

verb (used without object), shied, shy·ing.

(especially of a horse) to start back or aside, as in fear.
to draw back; recoil.

noun, plural shies.

a sudden start aside, as in fear.

Origin of shy

1
before 1000; late Middle English schey (adj.), early Middle English scheowe, Old English scēoh; cognate with Middle High German schiech; akin to Dutch schuw, German scheu; cf. eschew
SYNONYMS FOR shy
1 Shy, bashful, diffident imply a manner that shows discomfort or lack of confidence in association with others. Shy implies a constitutional shrinking from contact or close association with others, together with a wish to escape notice: shy and retiring. Bashful suggests timidity about meeting others, and trepidation and awkward behavior when brought into prominence or notice: a bashful child. Diffident emphasizes self-distrust, fear of censure, failure, etc., and a hesitant, tentative manner as a consequence: a diffident approach to a touchy subject.
4 heedful, cautious, chary.
10 shrink.
ANTONYMS FOR shy
1 forward.
2 trusting.
4 careless.
10 advance.
Related formsshy·er, nounshy·ly, adverbshy·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for shier

British Dictionary definitions for shier (1 of 4)

shier

1
/ (ˈʃaɪə) /

adjective

a comparative of shy 1

British Dictionary definitions for shier (2 of 4)

shier

2

shyer

/ (ˈʃaɪə) /

noun

a horse that shies habitually

British Dictionary definitions for shier (3 of 4)

shy

1
/ (ʃaɪ) /

adjective shyer, shyest, shier or shiest

verb shies, shying or shied (intr)

to move suddenly, as from fearthe horse shied at the snake in the road
(usually foll by off or away) to draw back; recoil

noun plural shies

a sudden movement, as from fear
Derived Formsshyly, adverbshyness, noun

Word Origin for shy

Old English sceoh; related to Old High German sciuhen to frighten away, Dutch schuw shy, Swedish skygg

British Dictionary definitions for shier (4 of 4)

shy

2
/ (ʃaɪ) /

verb shies, shying or shied

to throw (something) with a sideways motion

noun plural shies

a quick throw
informal a gibe
informal an attempt; experiment
short for cockshy
Derived Formsshyer, noun

Word Origin for shy

C18: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German sciuhen to make timid, Middle Dutch schüchteren to chase away
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

Idioms and Phrases with shier

shy

In addition to the idiom beginning with shy

  • shy away from

also see:

  • bricks shy of a load
  • fight shy of
  • once bitten, twice shy
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.