Submissive vs. Shy — What's the Difference?

Inclined or willing to submit.

Nervous or timid in the company of other people

Obedient or passive.

Less than; short of

(BDSM) One who submits to a dominant partner in BDSM practices.

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

(rare) One who submits.

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

Inclined or ready to submit; acknowledging one's inferiority; yielding; obedient; humble.

Fling or throw (something) at a target

Showing a readiness to submit; expressing submission; as, a submissive demeanor.

A sudden startled movement, especially of a frightened horse.

Inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination;

An act of flinging or throwing something at a target.

Willing to submit without resistance to authority; deferent

Easily startled; timid

Abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant;

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

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;