timid

[tim-id]

adjective

timider, timidest 

1. lacking in self-assurance, courage, or bravery; easily alarmed; timorous; shy.

   Synonyms: fainthearted, fearful

2. characterized by or indicating fear.

   a timid approach to a problem.

timid

/ ˈtɪmɪd /

adjective

1. easily frightened or upset, esp by human contact; shy

2. indicating shyness or fear

Other Word Forms

• timidity noun
• timidness noun
• timidly adverb
• overtimid adjective
• overtimidly adverb
• untimid adjective
• untimidly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of timid¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin timidus “fearful,” equivalent to tim(ēre) “to fear” + -idus adjective suffix; -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of timid¹

C16: from Latin timidus, from timēre to fear

Synonym Study

See cowardly.

Example Sentences

I was timid about that, but he said, “You need some weird Louis s— in there.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We write together to express our serious concern that the bold reforms urgently needed to secure Europe’s digital future are being placed at risk by slow and timid actions from your Commission,” the letter says.

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Quan’s natural effervescence, however, gave his characters an energy and spirit that defied the expectation that these geeks had to be timid or socially awkward.

Read more on Salon

A £50,000 reward has been offered for information on the unsolved murder of a "timid" and "trusting" man found dead in Salford.

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Another staffer tells me: "There is no fire, no passion, no vision – we are timid and flat-footed."

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Related Words

• ambivalent 
• bashful 
• demure 
• diffident 
• fearful 
• feeble 
• frightened 
• gentle 
• humble 
• modest 
• nervous 
• weak