shyness
Reluctance around strangers
Shyness is the tendency to feel uncomfortable or inhibited around other people, especially strangers or in unfamiliar social situations.
It may manifest as quietness, avoidance of eye contact, or reluctance to speak up: Her shyness made job interviews excruciating.
Shyness differs from introversion—shy people may want social connection but feel anxious pursuing it.
Uncomfortably self-conscious
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- reservedRestrained in manner
- meekHumbly unassertive
- mousyShy and unassertive
diffident · demure · coy · sheepish · shrinking · retiring · unassertive · wallflower
Uncomfortably aware of oneself
- insecureLacking self-assurance
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
vulnerable · uneasy · hesitant · self-doubt · embarrassed · awkward · fearful · inhibited
Emotionally distant, disengaged
- reticentDisinclined to speak freely
- taciturnHabitually uncommunicative
- aloofEmotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- reclusiveSeeking isolation from others
solitary · guarded · uncommunicative · private · secretive · distant · standoffish · unsociable
Turned toward inner life
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- reflectiveCasting back light
- thoughtfulShowing careful consideration
self-aware · meditative · inward-looking · self-contained · cerebral · bookish · pensive · philosophical
bashful
Uncomfortably self-conscious
mousy · diffident · demure · coy · sheepish · shrinking · retiring · unassertive · wallflower · timorous
self-conscious
Uncomfortably aware of oneself
apprehensive · vulnerable · uneasy · hesitant · self-doubt · embarrassed · awkward · fearful · inhibited · uncertain
withdrawn
Emotionally distant, disengaged
- reticentDisinclined to speak freely
- taciturnHabitually uncommunicative
- aloofEmotionally withdrawn, uninviting
reclusive · solitary · guarded · uncommunicative · private · secretive · distant · standoffish · unsociable · introverted
introverted
Turned toward inner life
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- reflectiveCasting back light
thoughtful · self-aware · meditative · inward-looking · self-contained · cerebral · bookish · pensive · philosophical · analytical
- social developmentsocialization, social skills, friendship, social behavior, belonging
- first impressionsfirst impression, first impressions, initial reaction, snap judgment, snap judgments
- introversionintroversion, solitude, alone time, isolation, loner
- personal strugglesself-doubt, loneliness, insecurity, anxiety, depression
- personality traitsextraversion, agreeableness, introvert, neuroticism, temperament
- teen anxietysocial anxiety, test anxiety, school anxiety, peer pressure, self-doubt
shynessboldness
Fearless readiness to act
confidence · self-confidence · assertiveness · audacity · brashness
shynessgregariousness
Love of being social
sociability · outgoingness · extroversion · sociableness · friendliness
shynessexhibitionism
Urge to expose oneself
showiness · flamboyance · ostentation · pride · immodesty
shy, shyly, bashfulness, shyer, shyest