What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
retiring
Example
She's a retiring person who doesn't like to be in the spotlight. [retiring: adjective]
Example
After a long day at work, he enjoys retiring to his quiet apartment. [retiring: verb]
shy
Example
He's too shy to speak up in front of a large group. [shy: adjective]
Example
She always feels shy around new people. [shy: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shy is more commonly used than retiring in everyday language. Shy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while retiring is less common and typically used in more formal contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between retiring and shy?
Retiring is typically associated with a more formal tone, while shy can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
