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.
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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
Diaz is plucky and determined in ways that the more timorous guys can’t quite muster.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
For years now, U.S. policy toward Syria has been indecisive and timorous, allowing pro-Assad forces to gain ground.
—Steven A. Cook, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2016
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
Diaz is plucky and determined in ways that the more timorous guys can’t quite muster.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
For years now, U.S. policy toward Syria has been indecisive and timorous, allowing pro-Assad forces to gain ground.
—Steven A. Cook, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2016
See All Example Sentences for timorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timorous
timid
Adjective
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Wonkier reads, to be sure—but these both provide useful context for those looking to understand why the Democratic Party can be so timid before numbers.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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In 2024, the Harris-Walz campaign seemed timid, participating in few press conferences and potentially adversarial interviews.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Timorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timorous. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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