1
2
: showing reluctance to make a definite commitment
a coy response
coyly
adverb
coyness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of coy in a Sentence
Adjective
It is distinctly odd to read a whole page dedicated to Hitler's life and character without a reference to his anti-Semitism. To say that Swiss banks contained gold coming from the bank accounts, the jewelry boxes, and the teeth of "concentration camp victims" is a little coy.
—
Ian Buruma, New Republic, 31 Jan. 2000
Rival camps are terrified that Bush will reject federal matching funds and the campaign-spending limits they impose, and Bush's aides are coy on the subject.
—John F. Dickerson, Time, 8 Mar. 1999
And there's Julia, the charming "chatterbot" (a text-based computer character), whose coy pickup banter echoes that of real-life Internet flirts.
—Michiko Kakutani, Albany (New York) Times-Union, 20 Aug. 1997
I didn't like her coy manner.
He gave a coy answer.
Ian Buruma, New Republic, 31 Jan. 2000
Rival camps are terrified that Bush will reject federal matching funds and the campaign-spending limits they impose, and Bush's aides are coy on the subject.
—John F. Dickerson, Time, 8 Mar. 1999
And there's Julia, the charming "chatterbot" (a text-based computer character), whose coy pickup banter echoes that of real-life Internet flirts.
—Michiko Kakutani, Albany (New York) Times-Union, 20 Aug. 1997
I didn't like her coy manner.
He gave a coy answer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2024
The Washington Commanders remain coy about their Week 1 starting quarterback, but announcing Jayden Daniels will begin the preseason opener under center is quite the tease.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 6 Aug. 2024
Neither man is coy about identifying as an activist.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Speaking about getting closer to Savchenko during her time on the show, the model — who split from her husband Billy Haire in May — remained coy but didn’t shy away from praising the dance pro.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coy 
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Adjective
Throughout this campaign, Trump has been deliberately coy about his extreme and radical agenda for a second term.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2024
The Washington Commanders remain coy about their Week 1 starting quarterback, but announcing Jayden Daniels will begin the preseason opener under center is quite the tease.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 6 Aug. 2024
Neither man is coy about identifying as an activist.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Speaking about getting closer to Savchenko during her time on the show, the model — who split from her husband Billy Haire in May — remained coy but didn’t shy away from praising the dance pro.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coy
Dictionary Entries Near coy
Cite this Entry
“Coy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coy. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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