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faintheartedness

noun

as in hesitation
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks his faintheartedness got the better of him, and he backed off from the ski trail intended for experts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for faintheartedness
  1. hesitation
  2. timidity
  3. fear
  4. concern
  5. worry
  6. anxiety
  7. timidness
Noun
  • As a kid, three chickens might be divided among the children; hesitation meant going hungry.
    — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
  • While Presley made appearances on The Milton Berle Show and The Steve Allen Show, among many others, Sullivan had hesitations about platforming the provocative singer, whose dance moves thrilled some audiences while offending others.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of hesitation
Noun
  • Choices, of course, have to be made, and timidity won’t get the job done.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The complaint of timidity could be read as a criticism of 79-year-old Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Education and Workforce Committee and panel’s chair when the party was in the majority.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of timidity
Noun
  • Lawrence has widened his aim to the entire AI industry, calling for a pause on AI development in the wake of fears from some at the companies that the technology could eliminate humanity.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Feldstein’s arrest was kept under a sweeping gag order, for fear that disclosing it would compromise Israeli intelligence, but the Haaretz reporter Bar Peleg soon learned of it.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Plan for the content of the meeting, including the objections, concerns and reservations people may bring.
    — Inga Bielińska, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Sure, Mahomes did enough Monday night to dispel any concerns about a drop-off in his game.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of concern
Noun
  • For Villa, there were mitigating circumstances in this latest defeat by Glasner, yet the worry is they are still being caught with the same punches.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Similar economic stressors like finding a new job if they get laid off, employer reductions of healthcare or retirement benefits, or simply not advancing in their career at pace significantly outrank worries about the impact of AI.
    — Stacey Zolt Hara, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of worry
Noun
  • Plus, the recent detention of several Haitian pastors by immigration authorities is fueling even more anxiety among congregants.
    — Lauren Costantino September 19, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Given the characters’ extreme situation, black humor also feels natural—a way of protecting themselves from anxiety and fear.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Noun
  • Never a forward accused of timidness, his offside restraint is not down to any reluctance to make surging runs in behind.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • The Denver Post editorial is a master class in timidness and in saying nothing of import.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Definition of timidness
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

fainthearted
faintheartedness
fainting
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Cite this Entry

“Faintheartedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faintheartedness. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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