pusillanimous

[pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muhs]

adjective

1. lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid.

   Synonyms: frightened, fearful, timorous

2. proceeding from or indicating a cowardly spirit.

pusillanimous

/ ˌpjuːsɪləˈnɪmɪtɪ, ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməs /

adjective

1. characterized by a lack of courage or determination

Other Word Forms

• pusillanimously adverb
• pusillanimity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pusillanimous¹

1580–90; < Late Latin pusillanimis petty-spirited, equivalent to Latin pusill ( us ) very small, petty + -anim ( is ) -spirited, -minded ( anim ( us ) spirit + -is adj. suffix); -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of pusillanimous¹

C16: from Late Latin pusillanimis from Latin pusillus weak + animus courage

Example Sentences

It wasn’t entirely free of the pusillanimous approach he has taken thus far to Kennedy’s regime, however.

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Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.

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Columbia University, through a thoroughly pusillanimous capitulation to a multimillion-dollar threat from the Trump administration, has put that conviction in the grave.

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"It’s an unfortunate lost opportunity that speaks to the pusillanimous nature of Hollywood these days."

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The vice president had a reputation for being President Nixon’s attack dog and skewering political opponents as “nattering nabobs of negativism,” “vicars of vacillation” and “pusillanimous pussyfooters.”

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