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

Derived Forms

• pusillanimity, noun
• ˌpusilˈlanimously, adverb

Other Words From

• pusil·lani·mous·ly adverb

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

We probably shouldn’t knock pusillanimous lux skiing too hard.

From Outside Online

But on this issue of Haredi service his pusillanimous silence has been disappointing and self-defeating.

From The Daily Beast

Some advised the king to leave the field; but that prince rejected such pusillanimous counsel.

From Project Gutenberg

Of upright heart, but pusillanimous, he only saw rightly when his self-esteem was not at stake or his interest in danger.

From Project Gutenberg

He finally reached Rome, but the congregation of Cardinals, of course, rejected the king's pusillanimous petition.

From Project Gutenberg

As if the miserable, pusillanimous reprobates did not know it as well as you!

From Project Gutenberg

He had always been more or less pusillanimous in the face of winter.

From Project Gutenberg