timorous

[ tim-er-uhs ]

See synonyms for: timorous timorously timorousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

full of fear; fearful: The noise made them timorous.
subject to fear; timid.

characterized by or indicating fear: a timorous whisper.

Origin of timorous

1400–50; late Middle English <Medieval Latin timōrōsus (Latin timōr- (stem of timor) fear + -ōsus-ous)

synonym study For timorous

1. See cowardly.

Other words from timorous

tim·or·ous·ly, adverb
tim·or·ous·ness, noun
o·ver·tim·or·ous, adjective
o·ver·tim·or·ous·ly, adverb
o·ver·tim·or·ous·ness, noun
un·tim·or·ous, adjective
un·tim·or·ous·ly, adverb
un·tim·or·ous·ness, noun

Words Nearby timorous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use timorous in a sentence

Forget about the Second Amendment—the gun lobby, abetted by timorous Republicans, is trying to privatize law and order.
Pro-Gun Absolutism: The Gun Lobby’s Push to Privatize Law and Order | Will Marshall | April 9, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Alas, the sad truth is that the CIA, despite its Bourne Identity reputation, has become a timorous, risk-averse bureaucracy.
Spy Agency Fiasco | Joseph Finder | August 18, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
The CIA, despite its cowboy image, is in fact in many ways a timorous, risk-averse bureaucracy.
Hands Off the CIA | Joseph Finder | April 22, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
After a few days of excessive nervousness the most timorous among the women were heard to complain of the monotony of existence!
The Red Year | Louis Tracy
They find it in their interest to be generous, obliging, and friendly; but to represent them as timorous sycophants is absurd.
The Chequers | James Runciman

In such circumstances some timorous husbands go to the country or make a journey to Italy.
The Petty Troubles of Married Life, Complete | Honore de Balzac
The Chub is a very timorous fish, utterly worthless as food except during the winter months.
The Teesdale Angler | R Lakeland
He opened the door, gave the timorous orphan a vigorous drive behind, and Mr. Figgins stood in the august presence.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks | Bracebridge Hemyng

British Dictionary definitions for timorous

timorous

/ (ˈtɪmərəs) /

adjective

fearful or timid
indicating fear or timidity

Origin of timorous

C15: from Old French temoros, from Medieval Latin timōrōsus, from Latin timor fear, from timēre to be afraid

Derived forms of timorous

timorously, adverb
timorousness, noun

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

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