timidity

[ ti-mid-i-tee ]

noun

1. the state or quality of lacking in self-assurance, courage, or bravery:

   The stakes are too high for the officials charged with making decisions to succumb to timidity and refuse to act.

Other Words From

• o·ver·tim·id·ness noun
• o·ver·ti·mid·i·ty noun
• un·tim·id·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of timidity¹

First recorded in 1510–20; from Latin timiditās, equivalent to timid(us) + -i- connecting vowel + -tās noun suffix; timid ( def ), -i- ( def ), -ty ²( def )

Example Sentences

Holt became the team captain in the media’s game of feigned ignorance and real timidity.

From Salon

Fear, panic and timidity rule the day, as they generally do.

From New York Times

He spoke about a lack of intensity, desire and warned against timidity.

From BBC

As journalist Nina Bernstein told Dan Froomkin in a 2021 interview, “Many reporters across the traditional news media are struggling against institutional tics and timidities that make ‘balance’ a false idol.”

From Salon

Cannons and the bells made a cacophony of celebration as pro-Union Los Angeles threw off its timidity and danced in the streets.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cowardice