Synonyms of pusillanimous

pusillanimous

adjective

ˌpyü-sə-ˈla-nə-məs 

as in afraid

having or showing a shameful lack of courage

pusillanimous politicians who vote according to whichever way the political wind is blowing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• afraid
• craven
• cowardly
• frightened
• gutless
• spineless
• scared
• yellow
• careful
• unheroic
• dastardly
• timid
• lily-livered
• recreant
• poltroon
• fearful
• chickenhearted
• cautious
• chicken
• weak
• timorous
• diffident
• milk-livered
• chicken-livered
• feeble
• wary
• fainthearted
• bashful
• coy
• unmanly
• shy
• soft

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brave
• courageous
• heroic
• daring
• fearless
• hardy
• valiant
• gallant
• intrepid
• dauntless
• stout
• valorous
• stalwart
• gutsy
• brazen
• bold
• audacious
• cheeky
• heroical
• stouthearted
• spirited
• lionhearted
• doughty
• plucky
• greathearted
• spunky
• resolute
• nervy
• determined

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective pusillanimous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pusillanimous are cowardly, craven, and dastardly. While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.

the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

Where would cowardly be a reasonable alternative to pusillanimous?

In some situations, the words cowardly and pusillanimous are roughly equivalent. However, cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.

a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

When might craven be a better fit than pusillanimous?

While the synonyms craven and pusillanimous are close in meaning, craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.

secretly despised her own craven yes-men

In what contexts can dastardly take the place of pusillanimous?

The words dastardly and pusillanimous can be used in similar contexts, but dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.

a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pusillanimous

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

In this instance, though, the Administration is not attempting to trample on powerless civil servants or migrants, or pusillanimous law firms, or universities that don’t have as much money as Harvard does. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

Columbia University, through a thoroughly pusillanimous capitulation to a multi-million-dollar threat from the Trump administration, has put that conviction in the grave. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025

There was no fanfare — indeed no announcement or change in Oscar rules — but a firestorm of controversy resulted, followed by the Academy’s cowardly, pusillanimous silence on the issue. —Armond White, National Review, 5 Mar. 2025

Mark Kelly Americans who are rightfully appalled by the pusillanimous response to anti-Semitism on college campuses have been pulling their donations and calling for restrictions on anti-Israel student groups. —Arthur Levitt, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2023

Those clumsy tales revealed Chazelle’s pusillanimous career ambitions. —Armond White, National Review, 13 Jan. 2023

This is a remarkably pusillanimous way of framing the case. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2022

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!