as in hesitation
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks
none of the scouts showed the least timidity about rappeling down the cliff
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Recent Examples of timidity
This idea of reasonableness is easily caricatured as moral timidity or a bloodless neutrality that drains politics of passion.
—
Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
But our delay and our timidity continue to cause unimaginable human suffering.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
But German timidity before Israel’s moral blackmail only partly explains Habermas’s callous attitude toward the country’s Palestinian victims.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Even in the face of Hollywood’s timidity, some American independent animators have managed to push their offbeat visions through as features made with limited resources.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Bulls took 18 fewer shots than the Celtics as a direct result of their timidity on the glass, grabbing only six offensive rebounds to Boston’s 20.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Enmired in the self-satisfactions and unnamed timidities of childhood, Galinda finds in herself neither canniness nor the need to cultivate it.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
The timidity of the tactics was utterly shameful.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Indulgence can tip over into self-indulgence all too easily; holding back can result in a timidity that makes a song sound at odds with its subject.
—Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
But our delay and our timidity continue to cause unimaginable human suffering.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
But German timidity before Israel’s moral blackmail only partly explains Habermas’s callous attitude toward the country’s Palestinian victims.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Even in the face of Hollywood’s timidity, some American independent animators have managed to push their offbeat visions through as features made with limited resources.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Bulls took 18 fewer shots than the Celtics as a direct result of their timidity on the glass, grabbing only six offensive rebounds to Boston’s 20.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Enmired in the self-satisfactions and unnamed timidities of childhood, Galinda finds in herself neither canniness nor the need to cultivate it.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
The timidity of the tactics was utterly shameful.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Indulgence can tip over into self-indulgence all too easily; holding back can result in a timidity that makes a song sound at odds with its subject.
—Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timidity
Noun
-
From Bugenhagen’s perspective, these patterns contribute to hesitation and uncertainty, particularly for individuals seeking long-term relationships, as the process becomes less about connection and more about verification.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
Neighbors concerned homes will ‘dominate’ district Homeowners around the Whitewater lot had their own hesitations about the plan.—
Mark Dee
May 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
And though Fanny released their albums in a post-Stonewall environment, the band’s gay members felt pressured to remain in the closet for fear of losing their record deal or the support of their fans.—
Marissa Lorusso,
Pitchfork,
3 May 2026
-
Lane harrowingly captures the paralyzing fear of being ordinary, while Metcalf will overwhelm you with the sheer emotion of her performance as Willy’s fiercely loyal wife, Linda.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
While there have been no reports of illness, authorities urge people to contact a health care provider for any concerns.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
-
Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the HHS, which oversees the FDA, said the studies were pulled over concerns about their conclusions.—
Padmanabhan Ananthan,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
At the macro scale of society, loss of control seems like a legitimate reason for worry.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Their worry is that investors are treating this economic moment — physical supply disruptions, geopolitical fracturing, tariff whiplash — like the liquidity crises of the past, which were solvable with government cash.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The next, everyone is discussing climate anxiety among urban houseplants.—
Larry Clifton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Typically found at gas stations and smoke shops, kratom and its synthetic version, known as 7-Hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH, have been marketed as an over-the-counter aid for pain, anxiety and drug dependence.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Timidity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timidity. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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