1
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character
the spinelessness that the grown woman has shown in dealing with her overbearing mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fearfulness
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger
charged the midshipman with sickening spinelessness under fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spinelessness
Some protesters are there to boo and shame Benitez for her spinelessness.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spinelessness
Noun
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Spending has held up, and the economy hasn’t shown the kind of demand collapse that typically accompanies recession-level income weakness.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
-
Oftentimes, people associate apologizing too much as a sign of incompetence, weakness or even behavior that’s annoying.—
Avni Trivedi,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Victor Marx won’t debate the two other Republicans on the primary ballot for Colorado governor Tuesday night, with the nonprofit leader claiming bias — and his opponents claiming cowardice.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
26 May 2026
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Hannah Einbinder speaks about the cowardice of Hollywood on the Gaza genocide contrasted with Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s bravery.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Given the President’s long-standing support for corporate tax cuts and deregulation of industry, this pusillanimity is perhaps not so surprising.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
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Our logrolling, our stumps and their politics, our fisheries, our Negroes and Indians, our boasts and our repudiations, the wrath of rogues and the pusillanimity of honest men, the northern trade, the southern planting, the western clearing, Oregon, and Texas, are yet unsung.—
Mark Edmundson,
Harper’s Magazine ,
12 Dec. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Spinelessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spinelessness. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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