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bashful Definition

bash·ful (bas̸h′fəl)

adjective

  1. timid, shy, and easily embarrassed
  2. showing an embarrassed timidity

Etymology: (a)bash + -ful

bashful Related Forms
bash′·fully adverb bash′·ful·ness noun
bashful Synonyms

bashful

modif.

shy, retiring, reserved, timid; see humble 1, modest 2, shy. See syn. study at shy.

bashful Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • bladder: The disorder is known in the literature as " bashful bladder " or paruresis.
  • child: Tell me please, ' cause I have to know I'm a bashful child, beginning to grow.
  • girl: Don't be bashful little girl - Four young men 19.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: Sasha is not bashful with Willoughby; she just started pushing her way in.
  • very: When I was seventeen I was very bashful, and a sixteen-year-old girl came to stay a week with us.
  • rather: He is rather bashful and refused to come out of his car for the photograph.
  • so: At fourteen I married you sir, So bashful I could only hide, My frowning face turned to the wall.
  • somewhat: Although the Manatee are quite docile and somewhat bashful, we discourage actually going in to swim with them.
  • quite: There are only three of them in all the world, and not only are they harmless, but quite bashful and shy.

Used with adjective complement

  • feel: Snow White Fired by the head of DisneyWorld after she said she was feeling Bashful.
  • look: They're dressed like geography teachers and look thoroughly bashful.