shying away
Avoiding through timidity
Shying away is withdrawing or recoiling from something uncomfortable, difficult, or frightening.
The phrase suggests instinctive avoidance rather than deliberate refusal: She never shied away from confrontation.
It often appears in negative constructions emphasizing someone's willingness to face challenges: He doesn't shy away from hard questions.
- avoidantInclined to evade
- shunningDeliberately avoiding someone
- eschewDeliberately abstain from
- keeping distanceRemaining spatially separated
- reticenceHabitual verbal restraint
reluctance · balking · evasion · hesitation · holding back · pulling back · dodging · flinching · recoiling · drawing back · uncertainty · shrinking · sidestepping · running scared · forsake · averting · doubtfulness · ducking
shying awayapproaching
Coming toward something
advancing · coming forward · leaning in · reaching out · closing in
shying awayconfronting
Addressing directly
facing · standing up to · tackling · braving · taking on
shying awayembracing
Holding warmly, willingly accepting
diving in · plunging in · welcoming · seeking out · pursuing