as in hesitation
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks
such timidness is surprising in a man as physically imposing as he is
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Recent Examples of timidness
Wilder was not stuck in the state of inertia that plagued him against Parker or the timidness against Zhang.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timidness
Noun
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There can be apathy and hesitation.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
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For example, during his dominant, 18-point first quarter in the Spurs’ Game 5 win over the Timberwolves, on one play Wembanyama hit a combo of hesitation dribbles into a crossover into a spinning layup over Rudy Gobert.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
Noun
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But what is different about the downfall of Starmer, which is now under way, has been the timidity of his premiership, its chronic self-doubt, as if its voice were permanently stuck in its throat.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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But our delay and our timidity continue to cause unimaginable human suffering.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Carbajal isn’t the only business owner who says fear of immigration agents kept customers home.—
Jack O'Connor,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
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The dramatic raid deepens fears over Turkey’s eroding democracy, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government faces accusations of weaponizing courts against the CHP ahead of future elections.—
Cinar Kiper,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Noun
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The league could soon be split into two conferences, or multiple divisions, with a schedule designed to maximize rivalries and limit any travel concerns that might come with a larger footprint.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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The elevator is expected to be out of service until next winter while it is being replaced, and accessibility advocates said the move raises concerns about transit equity.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Another reasonable worry is energy.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2026
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With one less worry – a safe home – Denise can now imagine a future for her family.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Already millions of school-age kids take in-person piano lessons, not to become the next Carnegie Hall virtuoso but for the lifelong benefits of playing music, from boosting creativity to soothing anxiety and depression.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
24 May 2026
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Polling has shown that Russians find internet regulation to be the leading cause of anxiety—even more so than Ukrainian drone attacks.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Timidness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timidness. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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