SHEEPISH Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

sheepish

adjective

ˈshē-pish

Definition of sheepish

as in shy

not comfortable around people a sheepish scholar who is most comfortable when surrounded by books

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sheepish At full time, he was pushed forward by Will Hughes and Maxence Lacroix to take in the appreciation of the supporters, looking almost sheepish at the attention. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 May 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 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 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 See All Example Sentences for sheepish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheepish

Adjective

Willis, who was one of the group's founders in the 1970s, died one day shy of his 75th birthday.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 July 2026
His six goals tied Argentina forward Lionel Messi for the tournament lead and gave him 18 in his World Cup career, one shy of Messi's record.

— CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of shy

Adjective

Over the course of a few days, this bashful teen, always armed with her camcorder and far less free-spirited than her cousins, will be beset by her father’s feuding family.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
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

Definition of bashful

Adjective

The van’s windows were smashed and a lone orange traffic cone sat on the hood.

— Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026
While South Africa and Ivory Coast thus far are the lone CAF squads to get bounced from the knockout stage, an impressive nine of 10 CAF squads made it to the knockout stage.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of lone

Browse Nearby Words

sheepherders

sheepish

sheepishly

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Style

“Sheepish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheepish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sheepish

adjective

Example Sentences

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