Coy

Quick meaning: Coy is an adjective meaning Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.

Meaning

Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.

More Meanings

1. Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.
2. Soft, gentle, hesitating.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To caress, pet; to coax, entice.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To calm or soothe.
5. (transitive, obsolete) To allure; to decoy.
6. (dated) Bashful, shy, retiring.
7. (archaic) Quiet, reserved, modest.

Example Sentences

Enforced hate, / Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.

Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, / While I thy amiable cheeks do coy.

For now there are ſprung up a wiſer generation in this kind, who have the Art to coy the fonder ſort into their nets

The ill-bred miss, the bird-brained Jill, / May simper and be coy at will; / A lady, sir, as you will find, / Keeps counsel, or she speaks her mind, / Means what she says and scorns to fence / And palter with feigned innocence.

Word Forms

• coyer
• coyest
• coys
• coying
• coyed

Synonyms for coy

Depending on context, synonyms include timid, modest, demure, indefinite, overmodest.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include timid, demure, modest, overmodest, indefinite, bashful.

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