1
as in weak
lacking strength of will or character
a spineless man who let his wife make all the decisions
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2
as in cowardly
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
spineless seamen who trembled at the first roar of the cannon
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Examples of spineless in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
The ceremony honors achievements, not in which film had the most spineless husband, but the film arts and technology, with Oppenheimer nabbing 13 nominations, followed by Poor Thingsat its heels with 11 nods.
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Zoe Guy, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
As events veer into seemingly dangerous territory, Baker spices up the scenes with throwaway humor that keeps the film buoyant, even as Ani gets a rude awakening about the shallowness of spineless Ivan’s feelings for her, let alone his respect.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2024
Few bookstores were willing to carry Shameless Hussy’s publications, not just because of the content — there was not, at first, an appetite for such bold feminist writing — but also because of the format: spineless, stapled chapbooks, like zines.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 17 May 2024
And since his election, Trump has done nothing but expose just how spineless members of the GOP are.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spineless 
Zoe Guy, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
As events veer into seemingly dangerous territory, Baker spices up the scenes with throwaway humor that keeps the film buoyant, even as Ani gets a rude awakening about the shallowness of spineless Ivan’s feelings for her, let alone his respect.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2024
Few bookstores were willing to carry Shameless Hussy’s publications, not just because of the content — there was not, at first, an appetite for such bold feminist writing — but also because of the format: spineless, stapled chapbooks, like zines.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 17 May 2024
And since his election, Trump has done nothing but expose just how spineless members of the GOP are.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spineless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spineless
Adjective
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His efforts have been challenged by weak consumer sentiment in countries including the US and China.Owen Tripp, Fortune Europe, 24 Oct. 2024
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Beijing can mitigate this with more stimulus, export controls and a weaker currency, although these steps carry risks such as capital flight, debt and further trade conflict.David Kirton, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Although Morgan’s win in Saudi Arabia solidified her as a cowardly heel, her immediately future on Raw remains unclear.Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
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However, Art does display human emotion; a childlike sense of whimsy and a cowardly nature.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Two baseballs flew down toward the San Diego Padres’ Jurickson Profar from the left-field corner stands, the gutless moves of two cowards.Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024
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Putin’s machismo posturing, additionally, is undergirded by a view of Russia as a country of real men opposing a pampered, gutless, and decadent West.Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2015
Adjective
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Get yourself a sturdy can opener with soft, non-slip silicone grips and an oversized knob for easy cranking.Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 4 Nov. 2024
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For something different, W.L. Weller Special Reserve also offers a soft, sweet finish that pairs nicely with cinnamon-spiced sweet potatoes.Emily Price, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Many Americans are afraid of what the aftermath of the election could bring.Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
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By its conception, AI does not make mistakes, does not take bribes and is not afraid of anything.Oleksandr Sheremeta, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Since then, Trump has regularly lobbed attacks at the military and its top leaders, accusing them of being politically craven and operationally incompetent.Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2021
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The callousness of investigators, the craven police interrogation methods that seek to discount the memory of survivors by insisting the truth hinges on minute details and the vitriol of a misogynistic public are all on display in Black Box Diaries.Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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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
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Those clumsy tales revealed Chazelle’s pusillanimous career ambitions.Armond White, National Review, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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James Giordano, a neurobiology researcher at Georgetown University Medical Center, says getting frightened triggers a specific response in the human body.Jennifer Stavros, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
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Affected businesses can lose money or go bankrupt, because frightened customers choose to dine elsewhere.Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Spineless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spineless. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
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