timid
Definitions
Lacking courage or confidence; easily frightened
胆小的，怯懦的；容易受惊的
Shy and hesitant; not bold or assertive
羞怯的，畏缩的；不大胆、不果断的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedtim (fear, from timēre) + -id (adjective: having the quality of) = 'having fear.' It is essentially Latin timidus brought straight into English: a person whose default state is fearfulness, shrinking back from people and situations.
Root tim still carries 5 more wordsWhy It Means This
Timid describes a general disposition, not fear of one specific thing. A timid person isn't scared of spiders in particular — they are hesitant across the board: slow to speak up, quick to defer, easily put off. That is why it pairs so naturally with soft, shrinking images: a timid smile, a timid voice, a timid knock at the door.
Usage Guide
- Personality (neutral): a timid child, a timid person — describes character
- Manner: a timid smile / voice / knock — the action itself looks fearful
- Figurative (business/politics): timid investors, a timid response — means overly cautious, lacking boldness
Note: timid is the everyday word; reach for timorous only in literary or deliberately formal writing.
Example Sentences
- 1.
She gave a timid smile and looked down at her shoes.
- 2.
He was too timid to ask for a pay rise.
- 3.
A timid knock at the door made everyone fall silent.
- 4.
Investors grew timid after the market crashed.
Easily Confused
timid vs shy — A shy person is uncomfortable around people but may be brave in other ways; shyness is social. A timid person is fearful and hesitant in general, including toward risks and decisions. You can be shy but not timid (quiet yet bold), or timid but not shy (sociable yet afraid to take chances).
Synonym Comparison
- timid — generally fearful and hesitant; a settled trait
- timorous — literary; fear in the moment, almost trembling
- shy — uneasy specifically around people; social
- cowardly — strongly negative; fails to do what's right out of fear
- meek — submissive and gentle, won't push back, but not necessarily afraid