coyness

IPA/ˈkɔɪnəs/
IPA/ˈkɔɪnəs/

coyness — noun

1. A way of behaving in which a person deliberately avoids giving clear answers or

1.名詞B2
釋義

A way of behaving in which a person deliberately avoids giving clear answers or revealing information about something, often making others curious or suspicious.

例句

During the press conference, the CEO's coyness about the merger annoyed several investors.

coyness + about + topic

Anong's brother answered with coyness when she asked about his vacation.

同義詞
  • evasiveness

    stronger focus on avoiding direct answers; less playful than coyness

  • secretiveness

    suggests hiding things as a habit, not necessarily in a social or strategic way

  • elusiveness

    suggests being hard to pin down or catch, often in a strategic manner

反義詞
  • frankness

    being open and honest without hiding anything

  • candour

    direct and truthful expression of information or opinions

用法筆記

This sense often appears with prepositions like 'about', 'regarding', or 'over' to specify the topic being withheld. The subject of the coyness is usually a person or organisation in a position where they could choose to share information.

常見錯誤

❌His coyness about the accident showed he was nervous.
✅His reluctance to discuss the accident showed he was nervous.
💡'coyness' specifically means choosing to hide information on purpose, not a general feeling of nervousness about a topic.
❌Her coyness made it hard to understand the instructions.
✅Her vagueness made it hard to understand the instructions.
💡'coyness' implies a deliberate choice to be unclear, not just being unclear by accident.

2. The quality of acting shy, innocent, or childlike in a deliberately playful way,

2.名詞C1
釋義

The quality of acting shy, innocent, or childlike in a deliberately playful way, often about romantic or sexual matters, intended to seem attractive or to create an air of mystery.

例句

Mauricio smiled with a coyness that hinted at a secret romance.

with coyness — manner adverbial

On their first date, Chiara's coyness was a playful act, not real shyness.

同義詞
  • shyness

    genuine social discomfort — lacks the sense of pretence and playfulness that coyness has

  • demureness

    a more formal, less playful term for pretending to be quiet and modest

  • bashfulness

    suggests nervousness about social attention; less deliberate than coyness

反義詞
  • boldness

    willingness to draw attention to oneself without hesitation

  • brazenness

    being openly confident or forward, especially in romantic contexts

用法筆記

This sense carries a strong connotation of acting or pretending. Use it when someone is deliberately playing up a shy image, especially in romantic or flirtatious situations. If the shyness is genuine and not performed, use 'shyness' instead.

常見錯誤

❌She felt genuine coyness at the party because she did not know anyone.
✅She felt genuine shyness at the party because she did not know anyone.
💡'coyness' in this sense implies playful pretence, not real social anxiety.
❌The child's coyness around strangers was understandable.
✅The child's shyness around strangers was understandable.
💡Children's genuine reserve is 'shyness', not 'coyness', which suggests deliberate affectation.