coy
24
5.4
- adjective
- /kɔɪ/
:
coqueto
- She smiled coyly when he asked her if she liked him.
I am sexually coy and shy, and I'm an introvert.
- I am sexually coy and shy, and I'm an introvert.
- But last week, before he left, the president was playing coy about a possible DMZ visit.
- I know girls, you are giving a coy smile.
- And narcissist will follow and like and have people follow them and then play coy.
- For me, I would make it all from the same photo shoot and just different faces, just like one of those, just like, you know, coy, mischievous.
- When we asked them about this, AMD played pretty coy with us, which tells us either we're right or that they're not sure either.
- He was like kind of coy and I never knew that girls like lusted after guys.
- First of all, and I'm not being coy here, for several thousand years there's been a debate among Jews about what's a Jew.
- The queen, oh, playing it coy like he doesn't the killer.
- This is the barest blush in coy coral.
Examples
-
Yeah, but why be so coy about it?
-
Look, I see no reason for being coy about this.
-
But we're being a little bit coy in this respect.
-
Let's not be too coy about it.
-
Are you coy on purpose, or do you honestly refuse to tell me your name?
-
You're not normally coy about these things.
-
Over the next few weeks, Gopal found himself becoming coy and playful with her.
Fiction book (1997) -
We shouldn't be shy or coy about confronting the issue.
Academic text (1992) -
Since the Surface unveil in June, Microsoft has been incredibly coy about its first-party hardware plans.
Blog text (5) -
Her odd mixture of shyness and forthrightness gave her a coy, flirtatious charm.
Fiction book (2002)
Synonyms
25
7.3
Not giving a direct answer to hide the truth or avoid commitment
23
3.7
Playful actions that show romantic or sexual interest
14
7.4
Being quiet, modest, and often shy
2
8.2
Acting playful and trying to attract someone's attention
1
9.9
Feeling shy and unsure about what to do
1
9.9
Not willing to say what you think clearly to avoid upsetting others
Acting too shy so it seems not sincere
Very careful about what they say and show to avoid trouble or gain advantage
Does not give clear answers and avoids commitment
Avoiding clear answers and responsibility
Antonyms
How Coy
Surface Forms
Etymology
Coy comes from an old French word coi meaning 'quiet' or 'calm', and it is like the English word quiet. So to be coy is to act 'quiet' or shy in a playful way or to avoid answering directly.