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

The legendary film from 1990 hinges on Bates’ all-consuming transformation into Annie Wilkes, a mousy woman dismissed by the world only to reveal her vindictive nature when the rules collapse. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026

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

Whereas the play only obliquely references the character’s successful new novel, this version presents Eileen’s manuscript — co-written with her mousy lover Thea (Imogen Potts), a former schoolmate of Hedda’s — as a revelatory treatise on the future of human sexuality. —Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025

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