noun
- plural of coyness; the quality or state of being shy, modest, or reluctant to engage openly
Usage: countable and uncountable uses; often describes affected or playful shyness
Examples
- Her coynesses about the compliment made everyone smile.
- The child's coynesses disappeared once she felt comfortable with the group.
- He interpreted her coynesses as a sign of disinterest.
- The actress's coynesses in interviews seemed carefully calculated.
- Despite their coynesses, both admitted they enjoyed each other's company.