easily alarmed; timid

reserved or retiring; bashful

(often used in combinations) tending to avoid a person or thing; distrustful

camera-shy

(often + of) wary or reluctant

were shy of disclosing their income

chiefly NAmer, informal lacking or short

three points shy of what we need

said esp of a horse: to start suddenly aside in fright or alarm; to recoil

(usu + away/away from) to avoid facing or committing oneself to something, esp through nervousness

They shied away from buying the flat when they learned the full price