as in timid
easily frightened
the sport of river rafting is not for those who are fainthearted
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Recent Examples of fainthearted
This, to Newsom, is being strong; the right are the fainthearted schoolmarms now.
—
Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Going to the theatre in that period was hardly an entertainment for the fainthearted, and calamity was not confined to the stage.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Breaking down a whole raw chicken is not for the fainthearted, but the results can be mouthwatering.
—Sarah Schutte, National Review, 6 July 2025
Reading even a few paragraphs about the testimony at these two NYC trials isn’t for the fainthearted, and men and women recognize that there are some very bad actors who must be held accountable for their actions.
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
The results are not for the fainthearted, as very thick, dry skin tends to peel off in layers.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 30 May 2024
Even the most fainthearted and tremulous of our fellow citizens—our CEOs—could stick up for free speech without being called Nazi sympathizers.
—WSJ, 23 Apr. 2021
Moreover, restricting the initiative to projects in developed markets is a fainthearted stipulation that will hopefully be swiftly abandoned.
—Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2019
Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Going to the theatre in that period was hardly an entertainment for the fainthearted, and calamity was not confined to the stage.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Breaking down a whole raw chicken is not for the fainthearted, but the results can be mouthwatering.
—Sarah Schutte, National Review, 6 July 2025
Reading even a few paragraphs about the testimony at these two NYC trials isn’t for the fainthearted, and men and women recognize that there are some very bad actors who must be held accountable for their actions.
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
The results are not for the fainthearted, as very thick, dry skin tends to peel off in layers.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 30 May 2024
Even the most fainthearted and tremulous of our fellow citizens—our CEOs—could stick up for free speech without being called Nazi sympathizers.
—WSJ, 23 Apr. 2021
Moreover, restricting the initiative to projects in developed markets is a fainthearted stipulation that will hopefully be swiftly abandoned.
—Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fainthearted
timid
Adjective
-
This means the country’s appetite for bold exploration, which the compact between science and government supported for decades, may be gone, too—leaving in its place more timid, short-term thinking.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
30 Dec. 2025
-
So that Indiana politicians could grow timid.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fainthearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fainthearted. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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