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trepid

American  
[trep-id] / ˈtrɛp ɪd /

adjective

  1. fearful or apprehensive, especially trembling from fear.


Usage

What does trepid mean? Trepid means afraid, apprehensive, or trembling from fear.Trepid describes a feeling of fear or apprehension, especially one accompanied with trembling. It is most often used to describe people or animals that are acting unusually uneasy, as in Josie was feeling trepid about taking her law exam.Trepid is also used to describe the actions of people feeling trepid, such as talking in a trepid voice.You’re more likely to hear people using trepidation, however. Trepidation means trembling fear, as in Fernanda’s trepidation over the championship game caused her to miss the final goal.Example: The trepid animal stepped out from the brush to take the food.

Etymology

Origin of trepid

First recorded in 1640–50, trepid is from the Latin word trepidus

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.

The trepid traveler, 76, admittedly carries around emotional baggage filled with neuroses and aversions.

From Washington Post

Figure skaters execute their routines so elegantly, they make it look easy—an illusion that quickly dissolves with our own trepid first step in an ice rink.

From Scientific American

This time around, she put grown-up thought into details like the length of her stride — people in the fashion industry say that on the runway, too short a step looks tepid and trepid.

From New York Times

Now it was he who became trepid, not understanding.

From Project Gutenberg

He mastered his trepid nature as best he could, and stayed there.

From Project Gutenberg