as in shy
not comfortable around people
a sheepish scholar who is most comfortable when surrounded by books
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Recent Examples of sheepish
No one can argue with that, least of all the two company reps, both of whom by this point have been reduced to sheepish nods.
—
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 May 2024
Eventually, Ackles gives him a sheepish grin as the video ends.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2024
Bragg himself has seemed almost sheepish about the Trump case, preferring to talk about tackling wage theft or creating a jail-diversion program.
—Michael Rothfeld Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Norman Mailer wrote with an unstable mixture of self-indulgence and self-awareness, bravado and diffidence, glibness and bracing honesty, macho posturing and an almost sheepish gentleness.
—Andrew Delbanco, The New York Review of Books, 28 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 May 2024
Eventually, Ackles gives him a sheepish grin as the video ends.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2024
Bragg himself has seemed almost sheepish about the Trump case, preferring to talk about tackling wage theft or creating a jail-diversion program.
—Michael Rothfeld Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Norman Mailer wrote with an unstable mixture of self-indulgence and self-awareness, bravado and diffidence, glibness and bracing honesty, macho posturing and an almost sheepish gentleness.
—Andrew Delbanco, The New York Review of Books, 28 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheepish
Adjective
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Those directly involved, however, were never shy to say that Jones’ role and level of play proved critical for a group that went from one of the NFL’s worst to among its very best.—
Parker Gabriel,
The Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2025
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An important late-season matchup is in store, as Brighton (43 points, 8th place) and Fulham (42 points, 9th place) sit only a few points shy of Nottingham Forest (48 points, 3rd place) in the Premier League table.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Nicky Jam has released his first project since facing stark backlash for his (withdrawn) endorsement of Donald Trump.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2025
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Children may express anxiety by becoming distant, withdrawn, agitated, upset, or avoiding social contact.8 4.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While maybe not made for the bashful, the floor-to-ceiling glass doors are incredible at expanding the space—and enjoying every last drop of water from the shower.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Jan. 2025
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Smith’s ambition to present a no-frills establishment is no indication of a bashful pedigree.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Detroit Free Press,
6 Mar. 2024
Adjective
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As always, Kylian Mbappe is the lone number 9 up front.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky defied Trump's guidance and was the lone House Republican to oppose the bill.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
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