as in fearful
easily frightened
a timid rabbit hopped cautiously out of the hedge
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of timid
The prologue might end with a paroxysm of violence, but first there are a few timid whimpers of nascent pleasure; Bill Skarsgård’s base and primal Count Orlok is a nightmare who arrives on the wings of a nocturnal emission.
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David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024
Unexpectedly, the timid Noa takes his brother’s side, wrapping a scarf around his uncle’s neck.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024
Julia Roberts had a timid initial reaction to Leave the World Behind.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
But, yes, there still is a timid approach from the perimeter.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for timid 
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024
Unexpectedly, the timid Noa takes his brother’s side, wrapping a scarf around his uncle’s neck.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024
Julia Roberts had a timid initial reaction to Leave the World Behind.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
But, yes, there still is a timid approach from the perimeter.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for timid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timid
Adjective
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The psychological toll is equally devastating, leaving victims ashamed, isolated and fearful.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
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But there was also a nagging feeling that his powers might be on the wane and that, if Walker was fearful of the media scrutiny that was on its way, elevating him to the captaincy might bring both unwanted publicity for the club and additional pressure on the player.Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Kassandra starts a little shy while meeting new coworkers, who wouldn’t be a little shy on their first day?Rob Gagnon, Hartford Courant, 23 Dec. 2024
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As a result, the Predators weren’t shy about confronting Crosby.Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And yet what this Dracula radiates — the scariest thing about him — is greater than any of that totalizing power.Wesley Morris, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
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But his warnings of fines were indeed rather scary.Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D., Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Phillips has made a jukebox spectacle that’s bold in conception but oddly cautious, even timorous, in execution.A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
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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
Adjective
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Even in districts that have staff dedicated to teaching Black history, some teachers are afraid of violating state law, according to Brian Knowles, who oversees African American, Holocaust and Latino studies for the Palm Beach County school district.Kate Payne, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024
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There are good people on both sides, and afraid, angry people on both sides.Hessie Jones, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That evening, in the no man’s land, a field strewn with empty water bottles, four Shia families sat on a picnic blanket around a burner attached to a gas tank, looking scared and drinking yerba mate.Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2024
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Once glued to their hiding spot, a scared cat may not come out when called by its owner.Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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First there’s Jill (Helena Wilson), the seemingly mousy one who has remained cooped up with mom decades after the others have bolted.Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2024
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But Denise’s story is effectively just thrown aside as the focus moves on to Denise’s supposedly mousy yet horny neighbor Nicole (Sanda Codreanu).Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Thesaurus Entries Near timid
Cite this Entry
“Timid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timid. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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