as in shy
easily frightened
a timid rabbit hopped cautiously out of the hedge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of timid
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
This time around, Frey has been less timid.
—Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Reverence for the past, and reluctance to destroy until the risks of destruction are fully known, is not timidity but wisdom, in architecture as in life.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for timid
Adjective
Oswald’s timid Ludie is gentle, sad and almost childlike in his lack of assertiveness toward his wife.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
This time around, Frey has been less timid.
—Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
Enmired in the self-satisfactions and unnamed timidities of childhood, Galinda finds in herself neither canniness nor the need to cultivate it.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Reverence for the past, and reluctance to destroy until the risks of destruction are fully known, is not timidity but wisdom, in architecture as in life.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for timid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timid
Adjective
-
Nobody knows better than Riley that the current Heat iteration led by Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and now Norman Powell leaves Miami still wanting, still well shy of championship contention.—
Greg Cote
February 25,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
While admitting to being reserved and shy, there was no trace of annoyance or desire to speed things up.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That might give some teams some hesitation.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The same force that’s fueled the tech sector’s explosive gains over the past two years is now driving investor hesitation.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And some of them were very fearful.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2026
-
That and the ensuing wave of arrests have made many fearful of taking to the streets again.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a palpable fear that her smashmouth attack style won’t work, and his collaborative politics might, in a red state where a Republican primary pileup has given Democrats a rare opening.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Long lines at gas stations across the capital suggested fears of possible fuel shortages or plans by many to leave the city.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 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
Noun
-
Our biggest concern should always be the goal.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Cost-of-living concerns are driving voter preferences, with affordability emerging as a defining issue that could shape the election.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But for the audience the scariest revelation in the conversation isn’t his dogmatism.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Dogs often learn from a young age that water isn’t scary.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While many retirees focus on market crashes or poor investment returns as their biggest worry, financial experts warn that the slow, steady rise in the cost of living may actually pose a greater danger — one that can stretch across decades and leave retirees struggling to keep up.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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Hufnagel addressed those worries, saying that 2026 is focused on optimizing the footprint through sharper assortments and marketing to support full-price sell-through and sustainable long-term growth.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Timid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timid. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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