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trepidatious

adjective

trep·​i·​da·​tious ˌtre-pə-ˈdā-shəs How to pronounce trepidatious (audio)
variants or less commonly trepidacious
formal : feeling trepidation : apprehensive
… said he's been feeling more trepidacious than excited for the eclipse, as the park tries to prepare for a surge of visitors …Jamie Hale
trepidatiously adverb

Examples of trepidatious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Perner highlighted that some consumers may be trepidatious. Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025 In this trepidatious if not fearful marketplace, what are buyers looking for right now? Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025 While some investors and real estate professionals are trepidatious, supporters argue that his policies aim to address long-standing affordability challenges in New York City by increasing access to housing and strengthening tenant protections. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 July 2025 Though trepidatious, Williams opted for the surgery. Kayla Greaves, SELF, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for trepidatious

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trepidatious was in 1904

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Cite this Entry

“Trepidatious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trepidatious. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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