timid

[ tim-id ]

/ ˈtɪm ɪd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR timid ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, tim·id·er, tim·id·est.

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

characterized by or indicating fear: a timid approach to a problem.

Nearby words

timespan, timetable, timewise, timework, timeworn, timid, timidly, timing, timing belt, timing chain, timing gear

Origin of timid

1540–50; < Latin timidus fearful, equivalent to tim(ēre) to fear + -idus -id⁴

SYNONYMS FOR timid

1 fearful, fainthearted.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR timid ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ti·mid·i·ty, tim·id·ness, nountim·id·ly, adverbo·ver·tim·id, adjectiveo·ver·tim·id·ly, adverb

o·ver·tim·id·ness, nouno·ver·ti·mid·i·ty, nounun·tim·id, adjectiveun·tim·id·ly, adverbun·tim·id·ness, noun

Synonym study

1. See cowardly.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for timid

Could the (thus far) timid trembling give way to a full-on, grand mal seizure?
26 Earthquakes Later, Fracking’s Smoking Gun Is in Texas|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He largely agreed with Lieberman but considered Netanyahu too timid towards the Palestinians.
Goodbye to Israel’s Lousy Government (Let’s Hope the Next One Isn’t Worse)|Alon Ben-Meir|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But when I arrive at the entrance, the timid gatekeeper tells me—without explanation—that I can no longer speak with him.
Pablo Escobar’s Private Prison Is Now Run by Monks for Senior Citizens|Jeff Campagna|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even the most timid and shaky of the puppies looks determined and confident in slo-mo.
‘The Puppy Bowl’: The Super Bowl’s Fiercest Rival|Lori-Lee Emshey|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

SO THAT HIS PLACE SHALL NEVER BE WITH THOSE COLD AND TIMID SOULS WHO NEITHER KNOW VICTORY NOR DEFEAT.
Miley Cyrus's Smartest Tattoo|James Poulos|September 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Here are only gabblers and timid cowards; there stood armed men ready to go to death.
The Pharaoh and the Priest|Alexander Glovatski
Sham Rao cast a furtive, timid look round him; and his voice, when he answered our questions, was somewhat tremulous.
From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan|Helena Pretrovna Blavatsky
Bleating like the fawn they would draw the timid dam to her death.
Daniel Boone|John S. C. Abbott
So far all the belligerent Governments have taxed on the timid side.
What is Coming?|H. G. Wells
She stopped before the table, timid and shrinking as though she felt a presentiment of danger, but making an effort to smile.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse|Vicente Blasco Ibanez

British Dictionary definitions for timid

timid

/ (ˈtɪmɪd) /

adjective

easily frightened or upset, esp by human contact; shy

indicating shyness or fear

Derived Formstimidity or timidness, nountimidly, adverb

Word Origin for timid

C16: from Latin timidus, from timēre to fear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for timid

timid

adj.

1540s, from Middle French timide "easily frightened, shy," from Latin timidus "fearful," from timere "to fear." Related: Timidly; timidness.

timid

adjective, tim·id·er, tim·id·est.

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Nearby words

Origin of timid

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for timid

British Dictionary definitions for timid

timid

adjective

Word Origin for timid

Word Origin and History for timid

timid