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Timorous

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(pronounced tim-uh-rus)  adjective

Definition

1. full of or subject to fear; fearful; apprehensive; of a timid temperament.  2. characterized by or expressing fear, timidity, or a lack of self-confidence.

Main Example

• But for the quick action of his parents, South Carolina high schooler Ryan Schallenberger might well have succeeded in carrying out his diabolical plan--which he had named "Columbine III"--to kill "as many students as possible in a crowded hallway!" Lauding the parents' courage in tipping off the police as soon as they realized that something sinister was afoot, the local chief of police remarked that most other parents--and perhaps even he himself--would have been too timorous to immediately inform law enforcement had they been in a similar situation.

Workplace Examples

• I can appreciate their moving with such halting and timorous steps on this project. It's a huge investment, and very risky!
• Great presentation, Celia! In spite of it being your first time before all those executives--some of whom are pretty intimidating--you were not the least bit nervous or timorous. Well done!

Other Examples

• with regard to the global food prices crisis, which has been partly caused by the focus on bio-fuels, this author saying in a recent speech: "Since its inception, I've described the push for corn-based ethanol as a dumb idea--one that's motivated by political reasons--and said that it would be much smarter for our leaders to urge Americans to lower their consumption of energy by such means as moving from a 'super-large SUV' to just a 'large SUV,' and so on. But true to tradition, the leaders of both major parties have behaved timorously, refusing to voice solutions that might be unpopular with voters."
• a colleague commenting: "The trouble with Harvey is that he hesitates too much! I wish somebody would cure him of his timorousness."
• a timorous voice or glance; an approaching and risky surgery making one timorous; somebody with a timorous temperament
• some unscrupulous employers taking advantage of the timorousness of illegal immigrants from Mexico and subjecting them to abysmal working conditions

© 2008 V.J. Singal

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