as in afraid
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
pusillanimous politicians who vote according to whichever way the political wind is blowing
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Recent Examples of pusillanimous
Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
In this instance, though, the Administration is not attempting to trample on powerless civil servants or migrants, or pusillanimous law firms, or universities that don’t have as much money as Harvard does.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
There was no fanfare — indeed no announcement or change in Oscar rules — but a firestorm of controversy resulted, followed by the Academy’s cowardly, pusillanimous silence on the issue.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 Mar. 2025
Mark Kelly Americans who are rightfully appalled by the pusillanimous response to anti-Semitism on college campuses have been pulling their donations and calling for restrictions on anti-Israel student groups.
—Arthur Levitt, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2023
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
In this instance, though, the Administration is not attempting to trample on powerless civil servants or migrants, or pusillanimous law firms, or universities that don’t have as much money as Harvard does.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
There was no fanfare — indeed no announcement or change in Oscar rules — but a firestorm of controversy resulted, followed by the Academy’s cowardly, pusillanimous silence on the issue.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 Mar. 2025
Mark Kelly Americans who are rightfully appalled by the pusillanimous response to anti-Semitism on college campuses have been pulling their donations and calling for restrictions on anti-Israel student groups.
—Arthur Levitt, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pusillanimous
Adjective
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For its part, Beijing remained defiant, with the commerce ministry saying Sunday that China doesn’t want a tariff war but is also not afraid of one.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
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Those in the fanbase who wanted Lewis gone four weeks ago are now afraid to lose him.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Missourians have the opportunity to put this craven power grab up for a vote.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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There are lots of good rebuttals to this craven move.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In practice, despite his rhetoric, Israel’s longest serving prime minister’s security policy was widely seen as cautious and relatively restrained, even derided as cowardly by political rivals, who also mocked his inability to make decisive moves.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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Violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Despite Lockjaw’s raid of their town, which reads as akin to an ICE campaign, Sensei isn’t frightened, confused, or shaken.—
Robert Daniels,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
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The film revealed that when his pal John Belushi died of a drug overdose in 1982 at age 33, Candy was visibly shaken and frightened.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In a year of gutless moves by major media companies, this may be the most gutless.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Listen, by doing it this way, with a press release instead of a press conference, Rose looks both gutless and gutty at the same time.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Because Republicans in Congress are spineless.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
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Many Democrats, including progressives, said the move was spineless on Schumer’s part.—
Julia Manchester,
The Hill,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The boy at the quotation board is running scared.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
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The best evidence that the Jets were scared to let Fields throw came before halftime, when New York went for it on fourth down on a fake punt, converted it, and then proceeded to run out the clock to head to the locker room.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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About two dozen people gathered at the town council meeting on October 16 to voice concern and distress about drinking, bathing in or washing their clothes in the yellow, brown water as the public comment period stretched over an hour.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 2025
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To honor the release of the hostages, Alter's congregation tied a yellow band around the Torah scroll during a service for a holiday marking the end of the annual cycle of Torah readings.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pusillanimous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pusillanimous. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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