Prudish vs. Shy — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Prudish and Shy
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Compare with Definitions
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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