timidity

noun

Definition of timiditynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of timidity My mother was never one for parting phrases, mainly because she was overwhelmed by a form of timidity that verged on self-erasure. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 But in a state like Connecticut, where Democrats flipped seats in the most recent local elections, this timidity makes no sense. — Matthew Blinstrubas, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026 There are those who would write her off, and perhaps her timidity before America’s facilitation of Gaza’s destruction has earned that dismissal. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 Their boldness reminds us of our timidity. — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 4 June 2026 But what is different about the downfall of Starmer, which is now under way, has been the timidity of his premiership, its chronic self-doubt, as if its voice were permanently stuck in its throat. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 14 May 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for timidity
  1. hesitation
  2. fear
  3. concern
  4. worry
  5. anxiety
  6. timidness
Noun
  • Someone may be ready to build with you, but hesitation, mixed signals, or too many moving pieces could slow the process down.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But the full game tape shows those are few and far between — his hesitation and questionable decisions make the lowlights a near-constant.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hesitation
Noun
  • As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement is spurring fears of a fresh wave of Canadian travelers steering clear of the US.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • While more than 100 law enforcement agencies across the country have ended their contracts with Flock Safety in recent weeks over privacy concerns, the company and the state of Georgia are deeply tied to one another.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • And as a result, the data centers built to enable this growth have drawn scrutiny from communities and across party lines, including concerns over higher electric bills.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of concern
Noun
  • Bi is at work on a black gown with a veil, which Christian worries is taking up too much time.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, worries over inflation, higher rates and high debt remain in focus, as benchmark borrowing costs around the world extend their multi-decade highs.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of worry
Noun
  • Common side effects include dizziness, fast heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, headache, insomnia and loss of appetite.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Analysts observe that market anxiety surrounding mega-cap tech companies has escalated markedly in recent weeks.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Noun
  • Never a forward accused of timidness, his offside restraint is not down to any reluctance to make surging runs in behind.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • The Denver Post editorial is a master class in timidness and in saying nothing of import.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Definition of timidness

Browse Nearby Words

timid
timidity
timidly
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Cite this Entry

“Timidity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timidity. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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