gun-shy

gun-shy

adjective
gunshy (adjective)
(especially of a hunting dog) alarmed at the report of a gun.
(of a person) nervous and apprehensive:
"she's still gun-shy about new relationships"
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German
Waffenscheu

***
gun-shy
adjective
;g;n-;sh;
Synonyms of gun-shy
1
: afraid of loud noise (such as that of a gun)
2
: markedly distrustful, afraid, or cautious

Examples of gun-shy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Underneath the puns and pumps was a dress-down of the rom-com that ultimately told the story of a woman who fell in love, came out worse, and became gun-shy.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 30 May 2025
Major studios have grown gun-shy about funding anything remotely risky; even a risk well taken can prompt a knee-jerk, scornful reaction from not only the executives but also the press: The film could, even should, have done better.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History
First Known Use
1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gun-shy was in 1884
See more words from the same year
Rhymes for gun-shy
munshi
Browse Nearby Words
gunshot
gun-shy
gunsight
Cite this Entry
Style

MLA
“Gun-shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gun-shy. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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Kids Definition
gun-shy

adjective
-;sh;
1
: afraid of loud noise (as that of a gun)
2
: being distrustful, afraid, or cautious

More from Merriam-Webster on gun-shy
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gun-shy

Last Updated: 4 Jun 2025 - Updated example sentences
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