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
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
Ballet Theater itself is suddenly looking fainthearted and uncoordinated as a theatrical troupe.
—Alastair MacAulay, New York Times, 15 June 2018
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
Ballet Theater itself is suddenly looking fainthearted and uncoordinated as a theatrical troupe.
—Alastair MacAulay, New York Times, 15 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fainthearted
Adjective
-
Johnson looked timid, unsure against the Warriors, and his shot reflected the lack of confidence.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The students and scholars nurtured in this ancient way will not be timid.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For The Golden Bachelor star Mel Owens, riding a horse during his one-on-one date with Cindy was a little scary.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
As one of Stephen King‘s scariest pieces of IP gets the HBO Max series treatment, the bloodbath has commenced with the first episode.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The result is a more intimate glimpse into the exorcism genre, putting the viewer right in the room with the fearful action.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
-
That’s not to say Felker-Martin isn’t empathetic towards people with that mindset; after all, Ellen is partly a shadow of her younger, more fearful self.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fainthearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fainthearted. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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