as in timid
easily frightened
sensational news stories that seem designed to needlessly alarm an already timorous public
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in timidity
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks
the timorousness with which so many politicians approach hot-button issues
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of timorous
Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 3 Aug. 2022
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
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
Abetted by the timorous LeFou (a funny John Sygar), Gaston schemes to bend Belle to his will.
—Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for timorous
Adjective
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
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
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
Abetted by the timorous LeFou (a funny John Sygar), Gaston schemes to bend Belle to his will.
—Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for timorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timorous
Adjective
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Twilight was quite timid initially and hid under the bed for the first few days.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
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The Makos athletes also noticed that their parents were timid around water.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 May 2025
Noun
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That’s where the Oracle of Omaha’s other main hesitation with real estate factors in: Buying property is often a hassle.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
-
Lionel says yes, and before more than a few moments go by the two have tumbled into bed, without fear or hesitation.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Some of this fear is rooted in social comparison, but much of it is tied to daily concerns about funding retirement accounts and covering child care costs.—
Eliza Brooke,
Vox,
23 May 2025
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The employee, who did not want to be named out of fear of retaliation for speaking to the news media, said that the N.S.F.’s rigorous review process had been disassembled, and that political mandates had taken precedence over scientific merits when assessing grant proposals.—
Aatish Bhatia,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Noun
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From the classic and shameful Hello Pervert campaign, attacks against Gmail users that claim their account is, oh the irony, being attacked by a hacker, and even concerns over President Trump’s tariff plans, all are employed in this way.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Officials have expressed concerns about applicants' online activities, particularly those perceived as hostile to U.S. interests.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Noun
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The letter is a sign of growing ties between religious and AI safety groups, which share some of the same worries.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
21 May 2025
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While Shields spent her adolescence in the spotlight starring in movies such as Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon and modeling for the likes of Calvin Klein, she's expressed her own worries for her daughters growing up in the world of social media.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Trousdale’s songs adroitly address female empowerment, loss, heartbreak, anxiety, mental health and other subjects while striking a winning balance between melancholia and buoyancy.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
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More than 6 million have a parent with both a substance use disorder and significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or both.—
Ty Schepis,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Timorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timorous. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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