timid
Shy and easily frightened.
timid in a sentence
- The timid mouse peeped out of its hole, then darted back at the tiniest sound.
- Too timid to put her hand up, Sofia whispered the answer to her friend instead.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to timid?
- Aconfident
- Bshy
- Cbold
- Dbrave
Show the answer
B: shy. The other three mean the opposite of timid.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to timid?
- Anervous
- Bfearful
- Cbold
- Dshy
Show the answer
C: bold. The other three mean nearly the same as timid.
Words that mean something similar
shy, nervous, fearful
Words that mean the opposite
bold, brave, confident
Careful: timid is not bashful
Bashful people are embarrassed. Timid people are frightened. Read why children mix them up.
More words about character & personality
- typical: Happening or behaving in the way you would expect.
- tyrant: A ruler who uses power in a cruel and unfair way.
- undaunted: Not frightened or discouraged, even when things are difficult.
- unwavering: Staying steady and never doubting or giving up.
- vain: Too proud of how you look or what you can do.
- valiant: Very brave, especially when things are difficult.
- venerable: Respected because of great age, wisdom or good character.
- versatile: Able to do many different things well.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test