mousy

adjective

ˈmau̇-sē 

-zē

variants or mousey

mousier; mousiest

: of, relating to, or resembling a mouse: such as

a

: quiet, stealthy

b

: timid, retiring

Mary was rather quiet and a bit mousy, but absolutely brilliant.

—Anna Russell

c

: grayish brown

mousy hair

mousily

ˈmau-sə-lē 

-zə-

adverb

mousiness

ˈmau-sē-nəs 

-zē-

noun

Synonyms of mousy

• timid

Examples of mousy in a Sentence

The movie is a fantasy about a mousy housewife who is transformed into a glamorous star.

a mousy little girl who hid behind her mother the entire time we were there

Recent Examples on the Web

So that was the music playing in the brain of the mousy defendant. — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Justine Skye took this mousy brown look to the next level by bleaching her brows to match. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 22 May 2026

At first blush, Rachel appears to be a mousy wallflower irritated by Marty’s fast-cash gambits. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026

Howell brings his mousy charm to the insecure Dennis Whitaker on The Pitt. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mousy

adjective

variants or mousey

ˈmau̇-sē  -zē 

mousier; mousiest

: of, relating to, or resembling a mouse: as

a

: quiet entry 2 sense 1a, stealthy

b

: shy entry 1 sense 1a, timid

c

: dull in color : drab