Timorous, Sedulous, Recondite

Timorous- timid; displaying a lack of confidence

Ex: The quarterback timorously lined up behind center and hiked the ball, knowing it would only be a matter of seconds before he was decked by the oncoming stampede of gargantuan defenders. Each year, the players from Alan Turing Mathematics and Science Prep anxiously awaited their game with the Ray Lewis Post-Juvenile Rehabilitation Center and their famously intimidating and ironic mascot, the acquitted-but-highly-suspected murderer George Zimmerman.

Sedulous- diligent and persistent

Ex: The sedulous journalist would not quit working until he got to the bottom of the case. He would leave no stone unturned in his investigation of Andrew Cuomo’s potentially pierced nipples. This was big if true.

Recondite- not well known; hard to understand

Ex: She lifted a book from the shelf that was full of recondite information on reproducing Nicaraguan Bird calls. She had a trip to Central America scheduled and she was not about to fly over there without the ability to let a Turquoise-Browed Motmot know that she was fertile and yearning for its feathery touch.