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Prudish vs. Shy — What's the Difference?

Prudish vs. Shy — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Prudish and Shy

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Prudish

Having or revealing a tendency to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity; excessively concerned with sexual propriety
The prudish moral climate of the late 19th century

Shy

Nervous or timid in the company of other people
I was pretty shy at school
A shy smile

Prudish

Marked by or exhibiting the characteristics of a prude; priggish.

Shy

Less than; short of
The shares are 29p shy of their flotation price

Prudish

Of excessive propriety; easily offended or shocked, especially by sexual matters
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Shy

(of a plant) not bearing flowers or fruit well or prolifically.

Prudish

Like a prude; very formal, precise, or reserved; affectedly severe in virtue; as, a prudish woman; prudish manners.
A formal lecture, spoke with prudish face.

Shy

(especially of a horse) start suddenly aside in fright at an object, noise, or movement
Their horses shied at the unfamiliar sight

Prudish

Exaggeratedly proper;
My straitlaced Aunt Anna doesn't approve of my miniskirts

Shy

Fling or throw (something) at a target
He tore the spectacles off and shied them at her

Shy

A sudden startled movement, especially of a frightened horse.

Shy

An act of flinging or throwing something at a target.

Shy

Easily startled; timid
A shy deer.

Shy

Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved
A shy student who stayed in the back of the room.

Shy

Characterized by reserve or diffidence
A shy glance.

Shy

Distrustful; wary
Shy of strangers.

Shy

Not having a sufficient or specified amount, as of money
Was shy $100 on his rent.
Was two victories shy of the school record.

Shy

To move suddenly or draw back, as if startled or afraid
The horse shied at the loud sound.

Shy

To avoid engaging in, treating, or discussing something
"a film adaptation that would not shy away from the novel's controversial themes" (Scot French).

Shy

To throw (something) with a swift motion; fling.

Shy

To throw something with a swift motion.

Shy

A sudden movement, as from fright; a start.

Shy

A quick throw; a fling.

Shy

(Informal) A gibe; a sneer.

Shy

(Informal) An attempt; a try.

Shy

Easily frightened; timid.

Shy

Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.
He is very shy with strangers.

Shy

Cautious; wary; suspicious.

Shy

(informal) Short, insufficient or less than.
By our count your shipment came up two shy of the bill of lading amount.
It is just shy of a mile from here to their house.

Shy

Embarrassed.

Shy

(intransitive) To avoid due to caution, embarrassment or timidness.
I shy away from investment opportunities I don't understand.

Shy

(intransitive) To jump back in fear.
The horse shied away from the rider, which startled him so much he shied away from the horse.

Shy

(transitive) To throw sideways with a jerk; to fling.
To shy a stone
Shy a slipper

Shy

(Scottish) (transitive) or (intransitive) To throw a ball with two hands above the head, especially when it has crossed the side lines in a football (soccer) match. To hit the ball back into play from the sidelines in a shinty match.

Shy

An act of throwing.

Shy

A place for throwing.
Coconut shy

Shy

A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

Shy

In the Eton College wall game, a point scored by lifting the ball against the wall in the calx.

Shy

(Scottish) In soccer, a throw-in from the sidelines, using two hands above the head. In shinty, the act of tossing the ball above the head and hitting it with the shaft of the caman to bring it back into play after it has been hit out of the field.

Shy

Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird.
The horses of the army . . . were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting.

Shy

Reserved; coy; disinclined to familiar approach.
What makes you so shy, my good friend? There's nobody loves you better than I.
The embarrassed look of shy distressAnd maidenly shamefacedness.

Shy

Cautious; wary; suspicious.
I am very shy of using corrosive liquors in the preparation of medicines.
Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of thier successors.

Shy

Inadequately supplied; short; lacking; as, the team is shy two players.

Shy

Owing money to the pot; - in cases where an opponent's bet has exceeded a player's available stake or chips, but the player chooses to continue playing the hand before adding the required bet to the pot.

Shy

To start suddenly aside through fright or suspicion; - said especially of horses.

Shy

To throw sidewise with a jerk; to fling; as, to shy a stone; to shy a slipper.

Shy

A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

Shy

A side throw; a throw; a fling.
If Lord Brougham gets a stone in his hand, he must, it seems, have a shy at somebody.

Shy

A quick throw;
He gave the ball a shy to the first baseman

Shy

Start suddenly, as from fight

Shy

Throw quickly

Shy

Lacking self-confidence;
Stood in the doorway diffident and abashed
Problems that call for bold not timid responses
A very unsure young man

Shy

Easily startled or frightened

Shy

Short;
Eleven is one shy of a dozen

Shy

Wary and distrustful; disposed to avoid persons or things;
Shy of strangers

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