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Synonyms

coy

American  
[koi] / kɔɪ /

adjective

coyer, coyest

  1. artfully or affectedly shy or reserved; slyly hesitant; coquettish.

  2. shy; modest.

    Synonyms:
    demure, bashful, diffident, retiring

  3. showing reluctance, especially when insincere or affected, to reveal one's plans or opinions, make a commitment, or take a stand.

    The mayor was coy about his future political aspirations.

  4. Archaic. disdainful; aloof.

  5. Obsolete. quiet; reserved.

verb (used without object)

  1. Archaic. to act in a coy manner.

verb (used with object)

Obsolete.

  1. to quiet; soothe.

  2. to pat; caress.

coy 1 British  
/ kɔɪ /

adjective

  1. (usually of a woman) affectedly demure, esp in a playful or provocative manner

  2. shy; modest

  3. evasive, esp in an annoying way

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Coy. 2 British  

abbreviation

  1. company

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • coyish adjective
  • coyishness noun
  • coyly adverb
  • coyness noun
  • overcoy adjective
  • overcoyness noun
  • uncoy adjective
  • uncoyness noun

Etymology

Origin of coy

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French coi, quoy “calm,” Old French quei, from unattested Vulgar Latin quētus, for Latin quiētus quiet

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.