as in shy
not comfortable around people
a sheepish scholar who is most comfortable when surrounded by books
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sheepish
The video feed suddenly cut out, replaced by a view inside the White Flight Control Room here at NASA's Johnson Space Center while flight controllers prepared a response that sounded a bit sheepish.
—
Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Apr. 2026
The Grammy winner made his sheepish confession during an appearance on Brittany Broski's Royal Court on Wednesday.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
Carpenter gets several musical numbers, an obvious but entertaining love triangle with a sheepish Kermit and an incandescently jealous Miss Piggy, and plenty of opportunities for self-aware, PG-13 humor.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Even Eilish, who was 18 at the time, seemed sheepish about the size of her haul that night.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Apr. 2026
The Grammy winner made his sheepish confession during an appearance on Brittany Broski's Royal Court on Wednesday.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
Carpenter gets several musical numbers, an obvious but entertaining love triangle with a sheepish Kermit and an incandescently jealous Miss Piggy, and plenty of opportunities for self-aware, PG-13 humor.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Even Eilish, who was 18 at the time, seemed sheepish about the size of her haul that night.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sheepish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheepish
Adjective
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Now, Perez sits just five homers shy of breaking Brett’s all-time franchise mark for home runs as a Royal.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2026
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Farrell, who also narrates in a soft voice, often wears a look of shy incomprehension, as if a beat behind in translating the world around him, a stranger in a strange land.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Such movement was not mirrored on the Netherlands’ right, where the attack-minded Denzel Dumfries was playing a more withdrawn role.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
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Without daily contact with peers, some children become more withdrawn, lonely or emotionally flat.—
John Samuels,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Overall and head-to-head goal differential are tiebreakers for group placement, and the Norwegians won’t be bashful about scoring as many times as possible.—
Julian Cardillo,
Boston Herald,
15 June 2026
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Brock Purdy isn’t bashful about the 49ers’ potential.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
21 May 2026
Adjective
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That could lead to Arraez making it in as a reserve, or the Giants’ lone selection or selections being a pitcher or pitchers.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
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The sun was blinding, my lone witness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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