coy
1 of 2adjective
William Shakespearecoy
2 of 2verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Synonyms
Adjective
- coquettish
- demure
- kittenish
Example Sentences
Ian Buruma, New Republic, 31 Jan. 2000 Rival camps are terrified that Bush will reject federal matching funds and the campaign-spending limits they impose, and Bush's aides are coy on the subject. John F. Dickerson, Time, 8 Mar. 1999 And there's Julia, the charming "chatterbot" (a text-based computer character), whose coy pickup banter echoes that of real-life Internet flirts. Michiko Kakutani, Albany (New York) Times-Union, 20 Aug. 1997 I didn't like her coy manner. He gave a coy answer. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 22 Aug. 2022 Casamigos has been very coy about its founders’ views on its prevalence in rap. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2022 Imagine a slightly less coy Sally Rooney paired with a highly perceptive alien, with strangely illuminating results. Nathan Deuel, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2022 That last comment, delivered with a coy smirk, has been typical of his response to such questions over the last few years. Adario Strange, Quartz, 24 June 2022 Who wouldn't feel their absolutely best — or even their sexiest or their most playfully coy — while jetting around the city in a citrus green co-ord or a slinky red, curve caressing evening gown? Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 June 2022 Following the wedding, Jonas and Turner remained coy about the event and chose to only share one photo with the public at the time. Alex Gurley, PEOPLE.com, 13 May 2022 Still, the quality of the script and the coy use of the choral score, swooning in for big emotions in intimate settings, such as a night-time walk on the beach, overcome such shortcomings. Robert Daniels, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2022 When asked whether a bidding war ensued when the family left E!, Jenner remains coy. Elizabeth Wagmeister, Variety, 10 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Adjective and Verb
Middle English, quiet, shy, from Anglo-French quoi, quei, koi quiet, from Latin quietus
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing coy
Kids Definition
coy
adjective
coy
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- coquettish
- kittenish
- flirtatious
- demure
- flirty
- girlish
- prudish
- priggish
- prim
- overmodest
- governessy
- goody-goody
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- uncoy
Synonyms & Similar Words
- shy
- withdrawn
- bashful
- diffident
- sheepish
- demure
- lone
- modest
- retiring
- self-effacing
- introverted
- backward
- recessive
- embarrassed
- reserved
- awkward
- unassertive
- antisocial
- unsociable
- uneasy
- unsocial
- uptight
- unadventurous
- unenterprising
- self-conscious
- inhibited
- lone-wolf
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- outgoing
- immodest
- extroverted
- gregarious
- bold
- forceful
- extraverted
- social
- companionable
- sociable
- convivial
- brash
- dashing
- uninhibited
- boon
- clubbable
- forward
- unreserved
- clubable
- overbold
Synonym Chooser
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.
While in some cases nearly identical to coy, bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.
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.
The meanings of modest and coy largely overlap; however, modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.
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.