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Synonyms

timid

American  
[tim-id] / ˈtɪm ɪd /

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 British  
/ ˈtɪmɪd /

adjective

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

  2. indicating shyness or 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

Synonym Usage

See cowardly.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of timid

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

Explanation

Timid means "overly cautious or fearful," like a timid driver who drives very slowly or avoids highways altogether. Timid comes from the Middle French word timide, meaning "easily frightened, shy." Those who are timid often worry that things will go wrong: a timid eater orders bland food to avoid the possibility not liking the flavor of something new, just as a timid partygoer talks to people he already knows, afraid that he won't be able to talk to strangers.

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Vocabulary lists containing timid

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The intervening works offer a survey of how the timid painter in the first work blossomed into the assured artist in the second.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 10, 2026

But de Brouwer said the EU was "timid" about enforcing the law.

From Barron's Jul. 9, 2026

But around kids her own age, Bonnie is so timid she becomes aggravating to watch.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 18, 2026

Still the editor-in-chief of Runway, Miranda is working to smooth her edges to avoid causing a stir in an industry that no longer excuses mistreatment, even though her employees remain timid in her midst.

From Salon May 1, 2026

He was timid, and Roque was a bully.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya

The proximity of the farm had had the effect of scaring antelopes and gazelles and the timider animals away from the neighbourhood.

From Settlers and Scouts by Strang, Herbert

But anon, imbued With a sudden, bounding access Of passion, it relaxes All timider persuasion.

From Dreams and Days: Poems by Lathrop, George Parsons

Often the little timider ones were called on to repeat the rhyme alone, without singing it, and then to sing it alone with the teacher.

From Education in The Home, The Kindergarten, and The Primary School by Peabody, Elizabeth P. (Palmer)

He was far, far timider than they thought!'

From Hard Times by Dickens, Charles

She'd eat me," said the spider, "and, anyhow, the competition on the wall is dreadful, and the flies are getting wiser and timider every season.

From The Crock of Gold by Stephens, James

My mean and abject spirit           Dost thou rebuke, O timidest of all,           Vanquish'd e'en by a woman, her who gave           For thee, her young fair husband, her own life!

From Story of Orestes A Condensation of the Trilogy by Moulton, Richard Green

As a rule, extreme vanity makes the timidest very bold in speaking.

From The Recollections of Alexis de Tocqueville by Tocqueville, Alexis de

When you are not the timidest, you are the bravest of creatures.

From A Journey to the Interior of the Earth by Verne, Jules

It was always upon some perfectly innocent nothing, which the timidest son might have permitted himself, that the wrath of Darius overwhelmingly burst.

From Clayhanger by Bennett, Arnold

Some of the musicians jumped off the key when they saw my face, and one or two of the timidest señoritas let out a screech or two.

From Roads of Destiny by Henry, O.

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