as in fearful
easily frightened
a timid rabbit hopped cautiously out of the hedge
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hesitation
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks
none of the scouts showed the least timidity about rappeling down the cliff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of timid
Jordan Greene, People.com, 3 June 2025
In the film, Colin, a timid man is swept off his feet when Ray, an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 May 2025
Forgive me if the phrase be strong A poet worthy of Rob Roy
Must scorn a timid song.
—Patricia Lockwood, New Yorker, 18 May 2025
Pillion, about the BDSM relationship between a gay biker and a timid parking attendant, kickstarted an exuberant eight-minute ovation from the audience that included Pedro Pascal after its premiere Sunday at the Cannes Film Festival.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for timid
Adjective
At the time, David was a bit timid around dogs and initially kept his distance.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 3 June 2025
In the film, Colin, a timid man is swept off his feet when Ray, an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 May 2025
Forgive me if the phrase be strong A poet worthy of Rob Roy
Must scorn a timid song.
—Patricia Lockwood, New Yorker, 18 May 2025
Pillion, about the BDSM relationship between a gay biker and a timid parking attendant, kickstarted an exuberant eight-minute ovation from the audience that included Pedro Pascal after its premiere Sunday at the Cannes Film Festival.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for timid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timid
Adjective
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Fed officials have been reluctant to move, fearful that tariffs Trump implemented this year could cause inflation in the coming months.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
18 June 2025
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The law was blocked by a judge, but Martinez said some workers and companies are still hesitant and fearful of enforcement.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Their only hesitation were their concerns for his future.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
26 June 2025
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These travelers pausing their U.S. visits aren't swearing off the U.S. forever, but their hesitation shows the country's current political actions aren't going unnoticed.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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However, Wicked arrived on Peacock on March 21, just shy of four months after the film opened in theaters.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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And Prim Rose is a 1-year-old girl who is energetic yet a little shy and has been waiting for a forever family since January.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
Noun
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After a den of thieves ransacked a rural Northern California home so many times that the owner fled in fear, the property fell into even wilder hands: a group of bears, authorities said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
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Levine also challenged Ono’s inaction as a pro-Hamas encampment took hold in the heart of Michigan’s campus, causing terror and fear among Jewish students.—
Avi D. Gordon,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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Is 'Jaws' the scariest film of all time? Watch it once or hundreds of times and the scare seems fresh every time, says Dawn Keetley, editor of the journal Horror Studies and professor of English and film at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
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The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
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On both the commercial, as well as the military side, the ability to deliver against order books was a paramount concern due to the ongoing ramp in commercial deliveries, and the shortfalls in munitions and missiles from wars in Ukraine and the mid-East.—
Jerrold Lundquist,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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This has increased concern over escalating rhetoric and the possibility that individual actors will feel compelled to take matters into their own hands.—
Odette Yousef,
NPR,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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Hundreds of timorous Timothée Chalamet lookalikes congregated in Washington Square Park.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
18 Dec. 2024
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Phillips has made a jukebox spectacle that’s bold in conception but oddly cautious, even timorous, in execution.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
11 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The fact Ishiba’s LDP faces an election on July 20 only heightens the BOJ’s worries about the political establishment striking back.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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But plenty of Republicans have expressed worries about the provision as well, imperiling its passage.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Timid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timid. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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