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Quiet vs. Shy — What's the Difference?

Quiet vs. Shy — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Quiet and Shy

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Quiet

Making little or no noise
I was as quiet as I could be, but he knew I was there
The car has a quiet, economical engine

Shy

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

Quiet

Carried out discreetly, secretly, or with moderation
We wanted a quiet wedding
I'll have a quiet word with him

Shy

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

Quiet

Absence of noise or bustle; silence; calm
The ringing of the telephone shattered the early morning quiet
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Shy

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

Quiet

Make or become silent, calm, or still
The journalists quieted down as Judy stepped on to the dais
There are ways of quieting kids down

Shy

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

Quiet

Making or characterized by little or no noise
A quiet library.
A quiet street.
A quiet, well tuned engine.

Shy

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

Quiet

Free of turmoil and agitation; calm
A quiet lake.
A quiet place in the country.

Shy

A sudden startled movement, especially of a frightened horse.

Quiet

Providing or allowing relaxation; restful; soothing
A quiet afternoon nap.
A quiet tune on the flute.

Shy

An act of flinging or throwing something at a target.

Quiet

Not showy or bright; subdued
A room decorated in quiet colors.

Shy

Easily startled; timid
A shy deer.

Quiet

Restrained, as in style; understated
A quiet strength.
A quiet life.

Shy

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

Quiet

Out of public scrutiny; known or discussed by few
Wanted to keep the incident quiet until after the election.

Shy

Characterized by reserve or diffidence
A shy glance.

Quiet

The quality or condition of being quiet
"A menacing quiet fills the empty streets" (Time).

Shy

Distrustful; wary
Shy of strangers.

Quiet

To cause to become quiet
The teacher quieted the students.

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.

Quiet

To make (a title) secure by freeing from uncertainties or adverse claims as to the ownership.

Shy

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

Quiet

To become quiet
The child wouldn't quiet down for me.

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).

Quiet

With little or no sound; free of disturbing noise.
I can't hear the music; it is too quiet.

Shy

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

Quiet

Having little motion or activity; calm.
The sea was quiet
A quiet night at home
All quiet on the Western front

Shy

To throw something with a swift motion.

Quiet

Not busy, of low quantity.
The traffic was quiet for a Monday morning.
Business was quiet for the season.

Shy

A sudden movement, as from fright; a start.

Quiet

Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.
He's a very quiet man usually, but is very chatty after a few beers.

Shy

A quick throw; a fling.

Quiet

Not showy; undemonstrative.
A quiet dress
Quiet colours
A quiet movement

Shy

(Informal) A gibe; a sneer.

Quiet

(software) Requiring little or no interaction.
A quiet install

Shy

(Informal) An attempt; a try.

Quiet

(transitive) To cause (someone or something) to become quiet.
Can you quiet your child? He’s making lots of noise.
The umpire quieted the crowd so the game could continue in peace.

Shy

Easily frightened; timid.

Quiet

(intransitive) To become quiet or calm.
When you quiet, we can start talking.

Shy

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

Quiet

The absence of sound; quietness.
There was a strange quiet in the normally very lively plaza.
We need a bit of quiet before we can start the show.

Shy

Cautious; wary; suspicious.

Quiet

The absence of movement; stillness, tranquility.

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.

Quiet

The absence of disturbance or trouble; peace, security.

Shy

Embarrassed.

Quiet

Be quiet.
Quiet! The children are sleeping.

Shy

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

Quiet

In a state of rest or calm; without stir, motion, or agitation; still; as, a quiet sea; quiet air.
They . . . were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.

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.

Quiet

Free from noise or disturbance; hushed; still.

Shy

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

Quiet

Not excited or anxious; calm; peaceful; placid; settled; as, a quiet life; a quiet conscience.
That son, who on the quiet state of manSuch trouble brought.

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.

Quiet

Not giving offense; not exciting disorder or trouble; not turbulent; gentle; mild; meek; contented.
The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.
I will sit as quiet as a lamb.

Shy

An act of throwing.

Quiet

Not showy; not such as to attract attention; undemonstrative; as, a quiet dress; quiet colors; a quiet movement.

Shy

A place for throwing.
Coconut shy

Quiet

The quality or state of being quiet, or in repose; as an hour or a time of quiet.

Shy

A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

Quiet

Freedom from disturbance, noise, or alarm; stillness; tranquillity; peace; security.
And join with thee, calm Peace and Quiet.

Shy

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

Quiet

To stop motion in; to still; to reduce to a state of rest, or of silence.

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.

Quiet

To calm; to appease; to pacify; to lull; to allay; to tranquillize; as, to quiet the passions; to quiet clamors or disorders; to quiet pain or grief.
Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace.

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.

Quiet

To become still, silent, or calm; - often with down; as, be soon quieted down.

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.

Quiet

A period of calm weather;
There was a lull in the storm

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.

Quiet

An untroubled state; free from disturbances

Shy

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

Quiet

The absence of sound;
He needed silence in order to sleep
The street was quiet

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.

Quiet

A disposition free from stress or emotion

Shy

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

Quiet

Become quiet or quieter;
The audience fell silent when the speaker entered

Shy

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

Quiet

Make calm or still;
Quiet the dragons of worry and fear

Shy

A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

Quiet

Characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity;
A quiet life
A quiet throng of onlookers
Quiet peace-loving people
The factions remained quiet for almost 10 years

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.

Quiet

Free of noise or uproar; or making little if any sound;
A quiet audience at the concert
The room was dark and quiet

Shy

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

Quiet

Not showy or obtrusive;
Clothes in quiet good taste

Shy

Start suddenly, as from fight

Quiet

In a softened tone;
Hushed voices
Muted trumpets
A subdued whisper
A quiet reprimand

Shy

Throw quickly

Quiet

Without untoward incident or disruption;
A placid existence
Quiet times

Shy

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

Quiet

Free from disturbance;
A ribbon of sand between the angry sea and the placid bay
The quiet waters of a lagoon
A lake of tranquil blue water reflecting a tranquil blue sky
A smooth channel crossing
Scarcely a ripple on the still water
Unruffled water

Shy

Easily startled or frightened

Quiet

Of the sun; characterized by a low level of surface phenomena like sun spots e.g.

Shy

Short;
Eleven is one shy of a dozen

Quiet

With little or no activity or no agitation (`quiet' is a nonstandard variant for `quietly');
Her hands rested quietly in her lap
The rock star was quietly led out the back door
Sit here as quiet as you can

Shy

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

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