to shy away from

Examples

• All

• A great mystery lies ahead of you, but you must not shy away from the challenge.

  Scary Movie 3 (2003)

• You don't need to shy away from it.

  Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)

• This is something to shy away from because if you do that enough, you lose yourself in a relationship.

• You know, it's not like you to shy away from a fight.

  Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)

• Why do you shy away from the word?

  I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)

• Leaders should always shy away from asking others to do what they would not.

  Academic text (1999)

• We as human beings shy away from the unknown.

• Yasmin, I do not shy away from responsibility.

  Anuvahood (2011)

• Let's vow never again to shy away from our responsibilities.

  Living (2022)

• A great mystery lies ahead of you, but you must not shy away from the challenge.

Synonyms

S

to stay away

vsto shy away from

590 1.6

Keep a distance from people or things you want to avoid

focuses more on avoiding difficult things because of fear or hesitation

S

to stay away from

vsto shy away from

384 2.3

Avoid going near people or places for safety

is similar but stresses fear or hesitation about difficult matters rather than safety

K

to keep away

vsto shy away from

187 1.6

Stop someone or something from coming near

is about personal avoidance of difficult or unpleasant matters rather than barring access

R

to run away from

vsto shy away from

• Informal

92 2.9

To avoid dealing with a problem or responsibility

means keeping away from hard things out of fear or hesitation

D

to distance oneself from

vsto shy away from

75 7.0

Keep away from someone or something to show no connection

is about avoiding difficult tasks or situations rather than social distancing

C

to chicken out

vsto shy away from

• Informal

42 6.2

Decide not to do something difficult or risky because you are afraid

is similar but highlights ongoing avoidance from hesitation rather than a single decision

K

to keep one's distance

vsto shy away from

32 3.9

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

is more about avoiding unpleasant duties or problems than maintaining distance

S

to shy

vsto shy away from

31 7.2

To move back suddenly because of fear or surprise

focuses on steady avoidance driven by fear or hesitation rather than sudden recoil

S

to shun

vsto shy away from

26 4.6

To avoid someone or something and refuse to meet and speak to them on purpose

is about avoiding unpleasant tasks or problems rather than social rejection

T

to turn away from

vsto shy away from

15 3.7

To refuse to have anything to do with someone or something

is narrower, describing general avoidance of difficult matters out of fear

S

to shrink from

vsto shy away from

7 5.1

Avoid doing something difficult or unpleasant because you are afraid

emphasizes avoidance specifically due to fear or unwillingness

S

to shrink back

vsto shy away from

• Informal

1 4.7

Move away because you are afraid or disgusted

involves avoiding difficult matters more from hesitation than physical recoil

F

to fight shy of

vsto shy away from

• UK

7.7

To avoid doing something because you do not want to try it

is about avoiding difficult things mainly from fear or hesitation

Antonyms

F

to face

∞ 2.2

To deal with a difficult situation or person

E

embrace

20 3.4

A warm, willing acceptance of someone or an idea

How Avoidant

to eschew

• Formal

23 8.9

to shrink from

7 5.1

to avoid

∞ 1.0

to shy away from

41 4.6

to hesitate

318 2.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology