jellyfish

jel·ly·fish

noun \ˈje-lē-ˌfish\

Definition of JELLYFISH

1

a : a free-swimming marine coelenterate that is the sexually reproducing form of a hydrozoan or scyphozoan and has a nearly transparent saucer-shaped body and extensible marginal tentacles studded with stinging cells b : siphonophore c : ctenophore

2

: a person lacking backbone or firmness

Examples of JELLYFISH

1. <a jellyfish who was afraid to tell her boss that her latest brainstorm was just plain bad>

Illustration of JELLYFISH

First Known Use of JELLYFISH

1841

Related to JELLYFISH

Synonyms: doormat, weakling, namby-pamby, pushover, reed, wimp

Antonyms: stalwart

Related Words: coward, milquetoast, mouse, nebbish, nervous Nellie (or nervous Nelly), pussy [slang], wuss (also wussy); sheep

Near Antonyms: mensch

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Rhymes with JELLYFISH

angelfish, anglerfish, archerfish, bony fish, butterfish, candlefish, cuttlefish, damselfish, devilfish, flying fish, guitarfish, John Bullish, ladyfish, lantern fish, lionfish, microfiche, muttonfish, needlefish, overfish, paddlefish, parrot fish, pilot fish, puffer fish, rainbow fish, ribbonfish, silverfish, surgeonfish, triggerfish, zebra fish