gunshy
Hesitant from experience
Gunshy describes someone who flinches or hesitates because of a past bad experience—like a hunting dog that cowers at gunfire after being startled by it.
The word applies to any learned wariness: After the divorce, she was gunshy about relationships.
Also spelled gun-shy.
Troubled by uncertainty
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- skittishProne to nervous fright
- jumpyNervously reactive to stimuli
- jitteryAnxiously restless
spooked · flinching · startled · tense · edgy · panicky · hypervigilant · fearful
Guardedly alert
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
- reluctantUnwilling to act
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- leeryCautiously distrustful
circumspect · distrustful · skeptical · apprehensive · uncertain · dubious · indecisive · cagey
Uncomfortably self-conscious
- meekHumbly unassertive
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
- unassertiveNot forceful or bold
- sheepishEmbarrassed and timid
mousy · shrinking · retiring · self-conscious · inhibited · demure · unconfident · timid
Trauma from combat exposure
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- flashbacksInvoluntary vivid memory episodes
- scarredMarked by healed wounds
- woundedHaving sustained harm
war-weary · battle-scarred · survivor · triggered · nightmares · flinching · conditioned · burned
anxious
Troubled by uncertainty
jittery · spooked · flinching · startled · tense · edgy · panicky · hypervigilant · fearful · timorous
wary
Guardedly alert
leery · circumspect · distrustful · skeptical · apprehensive · uncertain · dubious · indecisive · cagey · chary
bashful
Uncomfortably self-conscious
- meekHumbly unassertive
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
- unassertiveNot forceful or bold
sheepish · mousy · shrinking · retiring · self-conscious · inhibited · demure · unconfident · timid
shellshock
Trauma from combat exposure
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- flashbacksInvoluntary vivid memory episodes
- scarredMarked by healed wounds
wounded · war-weary · battle-scarred · survivor · triggered · nightmares · flinching · conditioned · burned · stung
gunshyconfident
Sure of oneself
assertive · aggressive · forward · pushy · brash
gunshyundaunted
Courageously persistent despite difficulty
unfazed · resilient · thick-skinned · unshaken · battle-hardened
- water gunsPressurized liquid-shooting toys
- machine gunsAutomatic rapid-fire firearms
- toy gunsImitation firearms for play
- big gunsInfluential, powerful people
- prop gunsNon-functional firearm replicas
- laser gunsWeapons emitting focused light