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

His captaincy towards the end of his previous tenure was marked by criticisms of a timid approach that failed to bring the best from England's batting talents.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 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

I thought the first swing might be timid.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

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

The tenderer and the timider of creatures Often desert the brood that has been handled, Or turned about, or indiscreetly looked at.

From The Young Lady's Mentor A Guide to the Formation of Character. In a Series of Letters to Her Unknown Friends by An English Lady

Clark!" said Potts, "you're getting timider and timider.

From Cord and Creese by James De Mille

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

From Dreams and Days: Poems by George Parsons Lathrop

The proximity of the farm had had the effect of scaring antelopes and gazelles and the timider animals away from the neighbourhood.

From Settlers and Scouts by Herbert Strang

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

As a rule, extreme vanity makes the timidest very bold in speaking.

From The Recollections of Alexis de Tocqueville by Alexis de Tocqueville

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

When you are not the timidest, you are the bravest of creatures.

From A Journey to the Interior of the Earth by Jules Verne

I like to know what two observing eyes saw and the feelings that sometimes made the timidest heroes—sometimes cravens.

From The Iron Game A Tale of the War by Henry F. (Henry Francis) Keenan