weak-kneed

American  

[week-need] / ˈwikˈnid /

adjective

1. yielding readily to opposition, pressure, intimidation, etc.

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weak-kneed British  

adjective

1. informal yielding readily to force, persuasion, intimidation, etc

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Other Word Forms

• weak-kneedly adverb
• weak-kneedness noun

Etymology

Origin of weak-kneed

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Then there are my people, weak-kneed types who, come winter, wonder whether they can survive yet another cold snap.

From The Wall Street Journal

Wish You Were Dead is about a relationship that veers between being affectionate and volatile; while in Big Brown Eyes, Young gets weak-kneed when a lukewarm love interest insults her.

From BBC

Ohtani has the most weak-kneed and worthless advisors in the history of advisors.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Pinkston, too, is not convinced that U.S. support for South Korea – two nations linked by a mutual defense treaty signed in 1953, the year the Korean War rumbled to an uneasy halt — is weak-kneed.

From Washington Times

"I think I was weak-kneed and tongue tied, but I managed to squeak out 'Your Majesty, it's a great honour to meet you.' I will take those memories to my grave," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• afraid
• agitated
• anxious
• frightened
• hesitant
• jittery
• nervous
• panicky
• scared
• shy
• skittish
• tense
• timid
• uneasy