Discreet vs Coy - What's the difference?
discreet | coy | Related terms |
Respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic.
Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.
(dated) Bashful, shy, retiring.
(archaic) Quiet, reserved, modest.
Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.
Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.
Soft, gentle, hesitating.
* Shakespeare
(obsolete) To caress, pet; to coax, entice.
* Shakespeare
(obsolete) To calm or soothe.
To allure; to decoy.
* Bishop Rainbow
Discreet is a related term of coy.
As adjectives the difference between discreet and coy
is that discreet is respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic while coy is (dated) bashful, shy, retiring.As a verb coy is
(obsolete) to caress, pet; to coax, entice.As a noun coy is
a trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.discreet
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.
- John just doesn't understand that laughing at Mary all day is not very discreet .
Usage notes
* Do not confuse with discrete .Derived terms
* discreetly * discretionAnagrams
* ----coy
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) coi, earlier .Adjective
(er)- Enforced hate, / Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
Derived terms
* coyly * coynessVerb
(en verb)- Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, / While I thy amiable cheeks do coy .
- A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets.