shying
Recoiling from contact
Shying is the act of drawing back or avoiding something.
A horse shies when it startles and veers away from a perceived threat.
People shy from confrontation, commitment, or difficult topics: He kept shying away from the subject of money.
Shying can also mean throwing something casually: shying stones at a fence post.
Avoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- duckingBending to avoid impact
- skirtingAvoiding by going around
- evadingSkillfully keeping away from
shrinking · withdrawing · retreating · pulling back · holding back · keeping away · backing off · distancing
Refusing to proceed
- boltingDeparting at speed
- rearingNurturing to maturity
- spookingAlarming or startling
- refusingDeclining to accept
bucking · swerving · startling · nervy · green · flighty · desensitizing · bombproof
dodging
Avoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- duckingBending to avoid impact
- skirtingAvoiding by going around
evading · shrinking · withdrawing · retreating · pulling back · holding back · keeping away · backing off · distancing · abstaining
balking
Refusing to proceed
refusing · bucking · swerving · startling · nervy · green · flighty · desensitizing · bombproof · sacking out
flinch
Involuntary retreat from threat
balk · skittish · bolt · rear · wince · twitch · jolt · scare · fright · alarm
hesitant
Slow to act
meek · timorous · shrinking · self-conscious · coy · retiring · withdrawn · unassertive · mousy · sheepish
- Horse Problemscribbing, weaving, bucking, rearing, biting
- riding faultsrefusal, runout, disobedience, knockdown, elimination
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- resistanceresistance, defiance, resistance fighters, civil resistance, resist
- retreatback away, back off, withdrawal, retreating, back up
shyingapproaching
Coming toward something
leaning · advancing · gravitating · embracing · charging
shyingemboldening
Making more courageous
asserting · braving · daring · venturing · holding ground
- shying awayAvoiding instinctively, fearfully
- shying away fromInstinctively withdrawing from something