shy from

VERB

back out

Synonyms

STRONGEST

back down cancel give up renege surrender

WEAK

avoid back pedal beg off blow it off chicken out cop out get cold feet go back on recant resign scratch throw in the towel weasel out wiggle out worm out

VERB

chicken out

Synonyms

WEAK

avoid back down back out back pedal beg off blow it off bow out cancel cop out funk out get cold feet give up give way go back on have no stomach for make concessions pull out recant renege resign scratch surrender throw in the towel turn yellow weasel out wiggle out wimp out withdraw worm out yield

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If energy prices seem set to remain high for the remainder of this year, workers are more likely to press for higher wages even as businesses will likely shy from incurring higher costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both closed a hair shy from Friday’s close, just 0.3% and 0.1% lower, respectively.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

While emphasizing intelligence-gathering and investigative diligence, he doesn’t shy from praising shoe-leather police work and citing traditional metrics of success.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2025

He seems to delight in wordplay and stoking his readers’ interest in the subject matter, yet doesn’t shy from the brutality of roadkill and environmental devastation.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2023

There are still cow-punchers, but they are mainly mail-order ones who would shy from a gun such as pulled down on Lambert's belt that day.

From The Duke Of Chimney Butte by Ivory, P. V. E. (Percy Van Eman)

shy from

Example Sentences

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