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shy adj, v 

adj 
timid, bashful, reticent, reserved, demure, diffident, introverted, retiring, coy, self-conscious, embarrassed, inhibited, modest, self-effacing, shrinking, withdrawn, hesitant, cautious, chary, suspicious, nervous formal timorous colloq. mousy, backward in coming forward 
ANTONYM bold, assertive, confident 

fight shy of 
avoid, steer clear of, shun, spurn; formal eschew; colloq. give a wide berth to, keep at arm?s length 

v 

shy away 
avoid, balk, shrink, recoil, wince, back away, flinch, swerve, start, quail, rear, buck