bashful

Shy; not liking to be noticed; socially timid.

Adjective

  1. Shy; not liking to be noticed; socially timid.
  2. Indicating bashfulness.
    • a bashful look
    • “Have you done something to your hair?” “I just ran a comb through it,” shrugged the vicar. “Well, it looks delightful.” “How delightful of you to say so.” Auntie Flip and the vicar shared bashful grins. Frank had never...

Origin

16th-century apheresis of abashed + -ful (“full of”).

Forms

more bashful most bashful bashfull

Synonyms

shy blushful sheepish

Derived

bashful bladder bashfully bashfulness overbashful unbashful