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
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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David Fine as Scorpius does an enormous amount of heavy lifting by injecting urgency and pathos, despite his character’s timid personality.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
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Chances of Musk becoming the world’s first trillionaire were timid when the markets first opened on Kalshi.—
Ananya Chetia,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Timorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timorous. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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