shyness
/ˈʃʌɪnəs
/noun [mass noun]
The quality or state of being shy: gradually he overcame his natural shyness...
- It is quite a hard thing to force myself out of the reticence and sometime shyness that has shadowed me all this time.
- Lan shut his eyes tight, sinking his head down a little in embarrassment and shyness.
- She looked at each pupil without showing any hint of embarrassment or shyness.
Synonyms
bashfulness, diffidence, sheepishness, reserve, reservedness, introversion, reticence, timidity, timidness, timorousness, fearfulness, nervousness, mousiness, apprehension, hesitancy, hesitation, reluctance, doubt, insecurity, wariness, suspicion, chariness, lack of confidence, inhibitedness, constraint, repression, self-effacement, self-consciousness, embarrassment, coyness, demureness, modesty, humility, meekness
