timidity
Lack of nerve
Timidity is the quality of being timid—fearful, hesitant, or lacking confidence.
It suggests a disposition to shrink from challenges or confrontation: His timidity kept him from speaking up in meetings.
The word often implies excessive caution where boldness would serve better.
Persistent apprehensive distress
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- fearfulnessChronic state of dread
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
dread · unease · worry · fright · alarm · jitters · cold feet · qualms
Timid self-consciousness
- self-consciousnessUncomfortable awareness of oneself
- introversionInward-directed temperament
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
- reservednessTendency toward social restraint
withdrawal · coyness · sheepishness · mousy · wallflower · social anxiety · stage fright · blushing
Disposition to obey others
- docilityReadiness to submit
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- passivityState of non-resistance
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
acquiescence · yielding · unassertiveness · self-effacement · obsequiousness · servility · pliability · milquetoast
State of being unsure
- indecisionFailure to decide
- reluctanceDisinclination to act
- tentativenessState of being uncertain
- cautionCareful attention to risk
vacillation · wavering · doubt · hesitancy · reservation · second-guessing · faltering · ambivalence
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- fearfulnessChronic state of dread
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
trepidation · dread · unease · worry · fright · alarm · jitters · cold feet · qualms · misgiving
bashfulness
Timid self-consciousness
- self-consciousnessUncomfortable awareness of oneself
- introversionInward-directed temperament
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
reservedness · withdrawal · coyness · sheepishness · mousy · wallflower · social anxiety · stage fright · blushing · awkwardness
submissiveness
Disposition to obey others
- docilityReadiness to submit
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- passivityState of non-resistance
deference · acquiescence · yielding · unassertiveness · self-effacement · obsequiousness · servility · pliability · milquetoast · doormat
uncertainty
State of being unsure
- indecisionFailure to decide
- reluctanceDisinclination to act
- tentativenessState of being uncertain
caution · vacillation · wavering · doubt · hesitancy · reservation · second-guessing · faltering · ambivalence · wariness
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- humilityhumbleness, humble, meekness, modesty, modest
- personality traitsextraversion, agreeableness, introvert, neuroticism, temperament
- speech tonessarcasm, sincerity, formality, informality, politeness
- traitshonesty, ambitious, brave, calm, kindness
- Temperamentadaptability, intensity, persistence, distractibility, mood regulation
timidityboldness
Fearless readiness to act
courage · bravery · fearlessness · daring · audacity
timiditybrazenness
Shameless, defiant boldness
effrontery · audacity · forwardness · cheek · assertiveness
timiditybackbone
Vertebral column, or courage
grit · resolve · determination · firmness · decisiveness
timid, intimidate, untimely, intimidating, intimidation, timorous, intimated, timidness, timorousness