But thou now O temerous ⁊ weake ſely ſhepe, thynke yt ſufficient for thee, onely to walke after me, which am thy ſhepehearde ⁊ gouernor: […]
Source: wiktionary
Timorous
/ˈtɪməɹəs/
Synonyms for "timorous" (86 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (18)
Strong matches (25)
faint-heartedfaintheartedfearfulfearingfearsomefunkingfunkygingerlygoosyhenheartedin fearinarticulateintimidatedjumpylily liveredlily-liveredmilk-liveredmilksoppishmilksoppymodest
Show 4 more words
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (43)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: fearful, afraid, apprehensive, bashful, cautious.
- Sentence evidence is available for timorous, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "timorous".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "timorous"
Keep "timorous" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "timorous" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "timorous", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "timorous" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesaffective statebehavioral tendencyemotional responseemotional statepersonality trait
More specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriestimorous approachtimorous attitudetimorous demeanortimorous responsetimorous studenttimorous voice
Inflections
2 entriesmore timorousmost timorous
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
18 total sentences available.
Thys faute of puſillanimitye and tymorous mynde, letteth a man alſo mani tymes from the doynge of manye good thynges, whyche (if he tooke a good ſtomake to hym in the truſt of Gods helpe) he were wel able to do.
Source: wiktionary
[T]hey might thank themſelves onely, & their ovvn timerous conceits & imaginations, that ſuch things vvere ſo dread & terrible.
Source: wiktionary
[I]n the ſtudy of the reign of Theodoſius [I], vve are reduced to illuſtrate the partial narrative of Zoſimus, by the obſcure hints of fragments and chronicles, by the figurative ſtyle of poetry or panegyric, and by the precarious aſſiſtance of the eccleſiaſtical vvriters, vvho, in the heat of religious faction, are apt to deſpiſe the profane virtues of ſincerity and moderation. Conſcious of theſe diſadvantages, vvhich vvill continue to involve a conſiderable portion of the decline and fall of the Roman empire, I ſhall proceed vvith doubtful and timorous ſteps.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "timorous"?
Closest matches include fearful, afraid, apprehensive, bashful, cautious.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "timorous"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.