timid

adjective

tim·​id ˈti-məd How to pronounce timid (audio)
1
: lacking in courage or self-confidence
a timid person
2
: lacking in boldness or determination
a timid policy
timidity noun
timidly adverb
timidness noun

Examples of timid in a Sentence

She's very timid and shy when meeting strangers. He gave her a timid smile.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The video, which has been viewed more than 1.4 million times to date, shows the golden retriever offering the timid stray their favorite toy. Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 Outside of those two hits, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers sometimes sounds timid and tentative compared to the albums that would follow. Al Shipley, SPIN, 1 Nov. 2024 Black bears are generally timid and more likely to avoid humans, while grizzly bears are known to be more territorial and larger in size. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 In the series’ first scene, Ena seems timid, and comes from a family of haemophiliacs. John Hopewell, Variety, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for timid 

Word History

Etymology

Latin timidus, from timēre to fear

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of timid was circa 1550

Dictionary Entries Near timid

Cite this Entry

“Timid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/timid. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

timid

adjective
tim·​id ˈtim-əd How to pronounce timid (audio)
: feeling or showing a lack of courage or self-confidence : shy
timidity noun
timidly adverb
timidness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on timid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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