spineless

[spahyn-lis]

adjective

1. having no spines or quills.

2. having no spine or backbone.

3. having a weak spine; limp.

4. without moral force, resolution, or courage; feeble.

   a spineless, lily-livered coward.

   Synonyms: indecisive, irresolute, weak
   Antonyms: resolute, strong

spineless

/ ˈspaɪnlɪs /

adjective

1. lacking a backbone; invertebrate

2. having no spiny processes

   spineless stems

3. lacking strength of character, resolution, or courage

Other Word Forms

• spinelessly adverb
• spinelessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spineless¹

First recorded in 1820–30; spine + -less

Example Sentences

"They make money from us and still dare to discriminate against Chinese people. We would be spineless if we don't boycott it out of China," another Weibo user said.

From BBC

The Freedom of the Press Foundation called the move “spineless” and the lawsuit “an insult to the First Amendment,” in a statement on X.”It’s a dark day for press freedom,” the post concluded.

From Salon

“The danger is clear,” Richardson said, calling the settlement a “spineless capitulation.”

From Los Angeles Times

He told us that he had learned his some of his colleagues were "spineless" and "treacherous".

From BBC

"Let the clumsy, the spineless, the alibi artists stand aside, a poor shot should be a shot irrevocably lost," he stated.

From BBC