as in hesitation
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks
such timidness is surprising in a man as physically imposing as he is
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Recent Examples of timidness
The Denver Post editorial is a master class in timidness and in saying nothing of import.
—
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Wilder was not stuck in the state of inertia that plagued him against Parker or the timidness against Zhang.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Wilder was not stuck in the state of inertia that plagued him against Parker or the timidness against Zhang.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timidness
Noun
-
With far less hair, Ella’s green eyes seemed greener, like those of the feral black cats that roamed their hamlet, meowing for table scraps, which were often given without hesitation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
-
The result is a workplace trapped between urgency and hesitation.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
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But in a state like Connecticut, where Democrats flipped seats in the most recent local elections, this timidity makes no sense.—
Matthew Blinstrubas,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
-
There are those who would write her off, and perhaps her timidity before America’s facilitation of Gaza’s destruction has earned that dismissal.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
As Kennedy and Bessette spend more time together and grow closer, her intimidation of the spotlight and fear of invasive paparazzi often create tension in their relationship, despite his attempts to calm the situation.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
-
Throughout the whole battle, that’s when fear really sets in for Jace.—
Sean T. Collins,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
Disney is betting that this universal concern will drive audiences to the film.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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From Lowell to Los Angeles, there are coast to coast concerns about what these data centers can do to the environment.—
David Wade,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Wood’s career was derailed by injuries, leading to worries of hard throwers being susceptible to blowing out pitching arms.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
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The New Jersey Girl and its parent company, The Local Girl Media Group, live on addressing public worries; this one just happened to have stakes for a broader population.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
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As burnout, anxiety and digital overload continue to climb, many are discovering that recovery requires doing less—not more.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
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In a neighborhood sometimes marked by gangs and violence, and in a time of heightened anxiety over immigration enforcement, the Fiesta Back of the Yards acts as a beacon of light, offering food, social services, music and fun in a safe environment.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Timidness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timidness. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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