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Definition of bashful

bashful

/ˈbæʃ.fəl/
bash · ful
Adverb:bashfully
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bashful Lexical Profile

bashful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Reluctant to draw attention to oneself; easily embarrassed and uncomfortable in social situations or in the presence of strangers.

Example

"The young boy gave a bashful smile and hid behind his mother's coat when the guests arrived."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for bashful

• Nearby Words

bash
bash bish
basher
bashful
bashfully
bashfulness
bashing

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 16th century from the now-obsolete verb 'bash' (meaning 'to be dismayed or lose composure', an aphetic shortening of 'abash', from Old French 'esbahir', 'to astonish') combined with the suffix '-ful'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bashful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bashful
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