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Glite Dictionary
coyness

coyness

1 7.0
A way of acting shy to seem attractive or get attention
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔɪnəs/
translation icon : coquetería
  • Paula's clothes fit perfectly; they presented her body the way a wooden bowl offers fruit on a kitchen table—without hesitation or coyness.

We love hoyness coyness with a scuba mask and some soy sauce and we are in heaven.

Examples

  • With a hint of coyness, he pretended to be shy while seeking compliments about his outfit.

  • During the interview, her coyness made her seem more charming and approachable.

  • This coyness, Lady, was no crime.

    Blog text (2)

  • Why does Rebecca's coyness work?

    Academic text (2003)

  • This is the first time, though, that I felt genuinely annoyed by the filmmakers' coyness.

    Blog text (26)

  • Alicia shook her head vigorously, but this, Cathy knew, was just preliminary coyness.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • She smiled at him with a sense of coyness, trying to capture his attention without being too forward.

Synonyms

posturing
vscoyness
34 7.0

Behaving to impress people instead of being honest

is shy pretending aimed to attract, not a general show for impression
pose
vscoyness
22 7.0

A way of behaving that is not genuine to impress others

is an acted shy modesty used to appeal, not merely deceptive performance
coquetry
vscoyness
  • NSFW
1 9.5

Playful behavior to attract someone in a romantic way

is shy modesty used to attract broadly, not specifically sexual attention
demureness
vscoyness
7.7

A shy, modest way of behaving that shows being quiet and polite

is purposeful shy behaviour used to attract attention rather than sincere modesty
coquettishness
vscoyness
9.1

Playful behavior, like smiling and teasing, that tries to attract romantic interest

is a pretending shyness aimed to attract attention rather than open flirting

Antonyms

openness
22 3.5

Being honest and clear about your actions and intentions

forthrightness
3 6.6

A way of speaking that is honest and direct

How Coy

coyness
1 7.0
bashfulness
1 3.9
shyness
21 2.8

Surface Forms

coyness singular
coynesses plural

Morphology

coyness = coy (transparent) = coy + ness

The abstract noun is formed by the productive suffix '-ness' from the adjective 'coy', so the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Coyness comes from coy, which used to mean 'quiet' and is like the English word quiet. So coyness is a kind of 'quietness' someone shows on purpose to seem shy and to attract attention.