as in shy
not comfortable around people
a sheepish scholar who is most comfortable when surrounded by books
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Example Sentences
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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
-
Ovechkin began this season with 853 goals — 41 shy of Gretzky’s 894 — and got off to a great start before missing time with an injury in December and slowing down a bit since his return.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
The Athletic,
2 Feb. 2025
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Beyond just nails, the musician hasn't been shy recently when it's come to accessorizing in recent months.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The expressions on these youthful figures are intent and heartfelt: obedient, frightened, absorbed, wary, withdrawn, cruel, proud, sly, or shy.—
Michael Bracewell,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2025
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Pettersson is more withdrawn, more cerebral, more sensitive and certainly not prone to confrontation by nature.—
Chris Johnston,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Some of the folks were happy to have their pictures taken, while others were more bashful and/or private, preferring that only their watch be photographed.—
Allen Farmelo,
Robb Report,
26 Nov. 2024
-
Everyone in Rebuilding is sincere, honest and caring, and nothing is overplayed — including the bashful love that blossoms between Dusty and Callie-Rose and is the engine of the story.—
Sheri Linden,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
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Alex Gerber drove in Burnsville’s lone run, while Johnson finished – for-2 with a run scored.—
Tom Schardin,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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The lone witness at the hearing who was invited by Democrats, Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, argued fiercely against Trump's plans.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near sheepish
Cite this Entry
“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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