Retiring vs. Shy — What's the Difference?

Shy and reserved; modest.

Nervous or timid in the company of other people

Introverted, liking privacy and seclusion.

Less than; short of

Present participle of retire

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

Retirement

(especially of a horse) start suddenly aside in fright at an object, noise, or movement

Reserved; shy; not forward or obtrusive; as, retiring modesty; retiring manners.

Fling or throw (something) at a target

Of or pertaining to retirement; causing retirement; suited to, or belonging to, retirement.

A sudden startled movement, especially of a frightened horse.

Not blatant or overly aggressive in manner or appearance;

An act of flinging or throwing something at a target.

Moving toward a position farther from the front;

Easily startled; timid

Not arrogant or presuming;

Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved

Of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office;

Characterized by reserve or diffidence

Distrustful; wary

Not having a sufficient or specified amount, as of money

To move suddenly or draw back, as if startled or afraid

To avoid engaging in, treating, or discussing something

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

To throw something with a swift motion.

A sudden movement, as from fright; a start.

A quick throw; a fling.

(Informal) A gibe; a sneer.

(Informal) An attempt; a try.

Easily frightened; timid.

Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.

Cautious; wary; suspicious.

(informal) Short, insufficient or less than.

Embarrassed.

(intransitive) To avoid due to caution, embarrassment or timidness.

(intransitive) To jump back in fear.

(transitive) To throw sideways with a jerk; to fling.

(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.

An act of throwing.

A place for throwing.

A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

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

(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.

Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird.

Reserved; coy; disinclined to familiar approach.

Cautious; wary; suspicious.

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

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.

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

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

A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

A side throw; a throw; a fling.

A quick throw;

Start suddenly, as from fight

Throw quickly

Lacking self-confidence;

Easily startled or frightened

Short;

Wary and distrustful; disposed to avoid persons or things;