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 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 Many Democrats, including progressives, said the move was spineless on Schumer’s part. — Julia Manchester, The Hill, 30 Sep. 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
  • The Falcons’ season begins this weekend; one that most are considering an evaluation year with an outside chance at playoff contention in a weak division.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Palace are probably weaker at centre-back overall, though, and two loans are not ideal.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • 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
  • What’s left is a vaguely political YouTube series afraid of its own tail, incapable of being actually relatable and too cowardly to own the batshit truths of these people’s lives.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of cowardly
Adjective
  • Most often, those who do seek medical attention are people who are more susceptible to foodborne illnesses, such as children, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems.
    — Kimberly Baker, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Most people recover within several days, but infections can become serious for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 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
  • The infected children reported a range of skin and soft tissue symptoms, including spots, pustules, blisters, and abscesses.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • That belief — that culture is simultaneously an economic force, a source of soft power and something that requires active protection — became the thesis for the gathering, the first of this scale in a century.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of soft
Adjective
  • The Florida International University senior struggled to attend classes and stopped driving – afraid something bad would happen.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The 6-foot-6, 238-pounder is basically a gigantic receiver who isn’t afraid to put his hand in the dirt and block.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • 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
  • Not an inspiration for craven pundits and politicians to use players as divisive avatars.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 July 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 14 Sep. 2026.

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