as in timid
easily frightened
sensational news stories that seem designed to needlessly alarm an already timorous public
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Recent Examples of timorous
At the time Russia revealed their new new weapon, U.S. national security thinkers did an obligatory round of timorous handwringing, but, other than that, the U.S. was largely—and strangely—silent.
—
Craig Hooper, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022
Democratic moderates are often portrayed by the left as timorous figures reluctant to take strong stands for fear of political retribution.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 3 Aug. 2022
The hospital industry has been timorous about transparency since the first large-scale quality survey was conducted by the American College of Surgeons back in 1919.
—Michael L. Millenson and J. Matthew Austin, STAT, 24 May 2022
Diaz is plucky and determined in ways that the more timorous guys can’t quite muster.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for timorous
Craig Hooper, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022
Democratic moderates are often portrayed by the left as timorous figures reluctant to take strong stands for fear of political retribution.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 3 Aug. 2022
The hospital industry has been timorous about transparency since the first large-scale quality survey was conducted by the American College of Surgeons back in 1919.
—Michael L. Millenson and J. Matthew Austin, STAT, 24 May 2022
Diaz is plucky and determined in ways that the more timorous guys can’t quite muster.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for timorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timorous
timid
Adjective
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In the bit, Rihanna and Ronnie (Andy Samberg) are dropping knowledge to a group of grade schoolers with the singer crooning in her power range as timid Ronnie can barely rise above a whisper to her utter consternation.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
14 Oct. 2025
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Finally, the Gators’ timid portal strategy is deliberate, not an unwillingness to adapt.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Timorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timorous. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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