as in shy
easily frightened
a timid rabbit hopped cautiously out of the hedge
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of timid
Their smaller counterparts, alpacas, are more timid and shy, but the more independent ones that aren't afraid to be away from the herd do well as therapy animals.
—
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Jerusalem, timid about the prospect of a land invasion, can only respond with more airstrikes until the regime hits its breaking point and the people rise up.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
But they’re considered relatively timid and pose no significant threat to humans.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
But the Joro spider is considered relatively timid and poses no significant threat to humans.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for timid
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Jerusalem, timid about the prospect of a land invasion, can only respond with more airstrikes until the regime hits its breaking point and the people rise up.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
But they’re considered relatively timid and pose no significant threat to humans.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
But the Joro spider is considered relatively timid and poses no significant threat to humans.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for timid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timid
Adjective
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The evaluation puts dust events on par with natural disasters in terms of economic costs, eclipsing, for example, the 2017 wildfire season but shy of that year’s hurricane season, according to Irene Feng, the lead author of the 2024 study, who researched dust at the University of Texas at El Paso.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
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This season, a much more settle Mbappé has left the quarterfinals again but as the leading scorer with 15, two shy of Cristiano's Ronaldo record of 17 in a single season.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When Kennedy spreads fear, parents become fearful and often refuse vaccines, and herd immunity begins to crack.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Her Catherine is less defined by the quirky, appealing eccentricities of Mary-Louise Parker’s performance in the original 2000 Broadway staging, but is girded by a certain angry resignation, fearful of what life might have in store, furious too, yet seething with a will to defy it all.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The lesser among them, the timorous, the doubtful, and the wavering, stood back, watching, waiting for some greater sign, savoring their doubts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The great danger of that moment was that a political backlash — abetted by a furious media and timorous politicians — would lead to a restoration of the policy of Roe.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
This season, Point came back from a scary right knee in January that kept him out of the Olympics.—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Josh Rottenberg spoke to Odenkirk, 63, about his recent career revision, notable for following his recovery from a scary heart attack.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
So Tristian stood, waiting for his moment, preparing himself to do what everyone else was too scared to do.—
Empress Rasheem,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
-
People are scared, at the bottom line.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Handsome Belgian executive Geert (Arieh Worthalter) regales an enthusiastic crowd with a yarn, while his mousy tech head Luc (Jan Hammenecker) demonstrates to what might be the world’s first speech-to-text technology.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
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Her name is Minnie, but her shyness leans toward the mousy, though no one would ever say that to her, least of all her beloved and extremely outgoing best friend, Callie (Chloe Coleman).—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Maybe a lot of producers are Melissas, afraid of the present, looking toward a past that never really existed.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Miami is exceptionally good at finding role players , so don’t be afraid to trade a Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr, etc.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The pressures of fame and the pains of Michael’s brand of friendlessness are barely explored, beyond the requisite scenes of screaming fans crowding outside the family estate and a terrified Michael attempting to get away from them (while still politely waving).—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, Ashley takes some of the other women to her favorite beach, and Alicia, who is used to her country club, is terrified.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Timid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timid. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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