timorous

UK: /ˈtɪmərəs/ US: /ˈtɪmərəs/ ,(tim′ər əs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tim•or•ous /ˈtɪmərəs/   adj. 

1. full of or subject to fear;
   fearful.
2. expressing or indicating fear or timidity:
   a timorous approach to a serious problem.

tim•or•ous•ly, adv. 
tim•or•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tim•or•ous  (tim′ər əs), adj. 

1. full of fear;
   fearful:
   The noise made them timorous.
2. subject to fear;
   timid.
3. characterized by or indicating fear:
   a timorous whisper.

• Medieval Latin timōrōsus (Latin timōr- (stem of timor) fear + -ōsus -ous)
• late Middle English 1400–50

tim′or•ous•ly, adv. 
tim′or•ous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See cowardly. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

timorous / ˈtɪmərəs/ adjective

1. fearful or timid
2. indicating fear or timidity

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French temoros, from Medieval Latin timōrōsus, from Latin timor fear, from timēre to be afraid

ˈtimorously adverb

ˈtimorousness noun