Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective coy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of coy are bashful, diffident, modest, and shy. While all these words mean "not inclined to be forward," coy implies a pretended shyness.

put off by her coy manner

Where would bashful be a reasonable alternative to coy?

While in some cases nearly identical to coy, bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.

a bashful boy out on his first date

When would diffident be a good substitute for coy?

While the synonyms diffident and coy are close in meaning, diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking.

felt diffident about raising an objection

When is it sensible to use modest instead of coy?

The meanings of modest and coy largely overlap; however, modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.

modest about her success

When could shy be used to replace coy?

In some situations, the words shy and coy are roughly equivalent. However, shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

shy with strangers

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of coy Google and its partners are being coy about details at the moment. Justine Calma, The Verge, 10 Dec. 2024 As joint owners, Abbey Road Studios and Bowers & Wilkins are predictably coy about what’s next, but even though details are far from forthcoming, no one at the launch event seemed ready to deny that Abbey Road Studios Mode will see service in other products sooner rather than later. Simon Lucas, WIRED, 10 Dec. 2024 The intimate, coy conversations that Powers has with Mitchell’s collaborators, friends and lovers read like phone calls that the author might have had with her own high school buds. Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024 The firm is cautious to coy about its future plans. Barnet Sherman, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for coy 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coy
Adjective
  • That's shy of the monthly average for payroll gains of 180,000 in 2024 and 227,000 jobs added in November, pending any revisions.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Zoom in: In Colorado, Democrats hold all state constitutional offices, 43 of 65 seats in the House and 23 of 35 seats in the Senate, just shy of supermajorities in each chamber.
    Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Madelyn Cline went full-on Old Hollywood bombshell, kittenish liner, polished lengths, and all.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2023
  • With a basis of flawless skin—smoothing and hydration offered via Kylie Skin Face Moisturizer and Eye Cream—Phillips pulled a thick wing of black liner along Jenner's lids, a diminutive wing beneath the lower lashline providing a kittenish complement.
    Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2021
Adjective
  • Pettersson is more withdrawn, more cerebral, more sensitive and certainly not prone to confrontation by nature.
    Chris Johnston, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Introverts may become talkative, or extroverts quiet and withdrawn.
    Dr. Talia Varley, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The two struck up a flirtatious correspondence, emailing and Skyping in the middle of the night.
    Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Back in 2017, their press tour for Spider-Man: Homecoming was a flirtatious tour de force: Zendaya always doubled over in laughter, Tom comforting an anxious Zendaya with a gentle hand on her knee, both of them constantly pulling the same silly face or one-liner out at the same exact time.
    Ivana Rihter, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Tempranillo There’s nothing bashful about Triple-Chocolate Truffles, Peanut Butter Truffles, and Buckeyes.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Dec. 2024
  • On a team of superstars, Salaam was a bashful giant, deferential and unselfish to the last.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The avant-garde silhouette was the perfect mixture of demure yet eye-catching—and rebuked the idea that directors cannot have as much fun with fashion as their leading stars.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2025
  • This maid was masking something in her demure and mindful way.
    Pat Saperstein, Variety, 4 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near coy

Cite this Entry

“Coy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coy. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on coy

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