timid

The long story short is that we haven’t traveled very far thematically since Thomas Jefferson said that timid men prefer despotism — although that was around 250 years ago.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026

The intervening works offer a survey of how the timid painter in the first work blossomed into the assured artist in the second.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

But de Brouwer said the EU was "timid" about enforcing the law.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

In real life, Laija García considers himself a timid, camera-shy guy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

“She wants that mirror,” he said timid, pointing behind the loveseat where “Saint Cecilia at the Organ” had been leaned against the wall.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

The timider of the guilty pair drank unwarily, not knowing what was offered to him, and fell into a fit of coughing.

From VC — A Chronicle of Castle Barfield and of the Crimea by David Christie Murray

But anon, imbued With a sudden, bounding access Of passion, it relaxes All timider persuasion.

From Dreams and Days: Poems by George Parsons Lathrop

He was far, far timider than they thought!'

From Hard Times by Charles Dickens

Often the little timider ones were called on to repeat the rhyme alone, without singing it, and then to sing it alone with the teacher.

From Education in The Home, The Kindergarten, and The Primary School by Elizabeth P. (Palmer) Peabody

She'd eat me," said the spider, "and, anyhow, the competition on the wall is dreadful, and the flies are getting wiser and timider every season.

From The Crock of Gold by James Stephens

With a great cry of the soul to that God it yearned and felt for through all the darkness and ruin which encompassed it, he laid his hand on hers with the timidest passing touch.

From Robert Elsmere by Mrs. Humphry Ward

The timidest one will turn and fight with every sign of fury.

From Outwitting Our Nerves A Primer of Psychotherapy by Josephine A. Jackson

It was always upon some perfectly innocent nothing, which the timidest son might have permitted himself, that the wrath of Darius overwhelmingly burst.

From Clayhanger by Arnold Bennett

Some of the musicians jumped off the key when they saw my face, and one or two of the timidest señoritas let out a screech or two.

From Roads of Destiny by O. Henry

Marion Jordan! the gentlest, timidest, most typical of young English girls!

From The Daughters of Danaus by Mona Caird