bashful

[bash-fuhl]

adjective

1. uncomfortably diffident and easily embarrassed; shy; timid.

   Synonyms: modest, abashed

2. indicative of, accompanied by, or proceeding from bashfulness.

bashful

/ ˈbæʃfʊl /

adjective

1. disposed to attempt to avoid notice through shyness or modesty; diffident; timid

2. indicating or characterized by shyness or modesty

Other Word Forms

• bashfulness noun
• bashfully adverb
• overbashful adjective
• overbashfully adverb
• overbashfulness noun
• unbashful adjective
• unbashfully adverb
• unbashfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bashful¹

First recorded in 1540–50; (a)bash + -ful

Word History and Origins

Origin of bashful¹

C16: from bash , short for _abash + _-ful

Synonym Study

See shy ¹.

Example Sentences

For “Task,” Jones asked her bashful but patient scene partner to redo one scene, an explosive fight Maeve has with Robbie, quite a few times, eager to get the perfect take.

From Los Angeles Times

If things start to stick, a splash of water or stock will deglaze and deepen the flavor, building a kind of jammy intensity that’s hard to believe came from such a bashful vegetable.

From Salon

In bashful tones, he said his main business was government tenders secured with foreign partners in the areas of renewable energy, engineering procurement, construction and power projects.

From BBC

The samosas, the second helping of naan, the kind of slightly bashful dinner invitation that arrives not with a flourish, but with a container of lamb curry.

From Salon

Woodman was happy to make the call because Rooney, a die-hard “Snow White” fan, was too bashful.

From Salon

Related Words

• confused 
• coy 
• diffident 
• embarrassed www.thesaurus.com
• reticent 
• self-conscious 
• sheepish 
• timid