timid

Sri Lanka, much improved in the field but far too timid with the bat, were bowled out for 176.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

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

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

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

This wasn’t a timid outfit in their Waldo jerseys—this team went out and took it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Don Apolinar Moscote, a mature man, timid, with a ruddy complexion, said yes.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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

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

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

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

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

To give you a clue, recollect that he was the timidest of souls. 

From Bunyan Characters (2nd Series) by Alexander Whyte

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

But delays are ever dangerous, and Mr. Price's friend was the timidest of the most timid men.

From The Story of the Great Fire in St. John, N.B., June 20th, 1877 by George Stewart

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