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spineless

adjective

ˈspīn-ləs How to pronounce spineless (audio)
Definition of spinelessnext
1
as in weak
lacking strength of will or character a spineless man who let his wife make all the decisions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cowardly
having or showing a shameful lack of courage spineless seamen who trembled at the first roar of the cannon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of spineless Republicans in Congress have become spineless sycophants to a president who only sees the beauty of this country in dollar signs. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026 He must be impeached, but with a spineless Congress and a corrupt Supreme Court how this will happen is in grave doubt. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026 My candidacy is a symbol of the end of the weak-kneed, feckless Republican leadership of Mitch McConnell, and the spineless swamp jellyfish that are in the United States Senate representing the Republicans. — Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 Because Republicans in Congress are spineless. — Callum Sutherland, Time, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spineless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spineless
  1. weak
  2. cowardly
  3. weakened
  4. gutless
  5. soft
  6. afraid
  7. craven
  8. pusillanimous
Adjective
  • But the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has devolved significantly since its glory days atop the comedy calendar, proving to be a weaker platform for political satire than the Onion’s takeover of Infowars.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Production disruptions and weak output in Chile, the world’s biggest producer, sent prices to record highs, with the US accumulating huge stockpiles and smelters in China forced to turn to scraps to meet that country’s industrial needs.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • In the case stood the cowardly lion's costume from the original film The Wizard of Oz from 1938.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The cowardly, devious Turgeniev has assimilated to the comforts of the West —that alone is enough for Fyodor to detest him.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of cowardly
Adjective
  • Aid groups warn more than three-quarters of Gaza’s housing stock is damaged, thousands of buildings are at risk of collapse, and residents grow especially vulnerable when winter rains seep into weakened structures.
    — Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
  • When people use contaminated soap, bacteria can enter the body through cuts and cracks in the skin and lead to infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
    — Jenna Anderson, HEALTH, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakened
Adjective
  • Forget about the networks, the streaming money is just going to continue to get bigger, especially at a time when there are almost as many pay channels as there are gutless members of Congress.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Trump’s revenge tour also took down five Indiana state senators who had voted against the midterm gerrymandering to which Florida’s gutless Republicans have agreed.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
Definition of gutless
Adjective
  • Paris Baguette serves sweet and savory pastries, wraps, breakfast sandwiches and cakes, including chocolate hazelnut with Nutella, a chocolate mousse, salted caramel layer cake, a blueberry chiffon cake and a strawberry soft cream cake.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
  • For those not quite ready to descend immediately into oxbloods, blacks, and vampy winter tones, taupe offers a softer way in.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of soft
Adjective
  • Some school teachers aren't afraid to reference the meme in class.
    — Owen Carry, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In this age of unremitting test screenings and CinemaScore, downer endings typically score lower, so Abrams appreciates that Cregger and Sony weren’t afraid to figuratively twist the knife in the audience.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • Did my eyes widen, revealing a craven journalist ready to pounce on an exclusive?
    — Jason Sheeler, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026
  • She was especially hurt that some of the people who criticized Cox most harshly, dismissing him as craven and disingenuous, were those who had the closest relationships with him.
    — McKay Coppins, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of craven
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of pusillanimous

Browse Nearby Words

spine-chilling
spineless
spinelessly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spineless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spineless. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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