Synonyms for pusillanimous

Grammar : Adj

Spell : pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muhs

Phonetic Transcription : ˌpyu səˈlæn ə məs

Définition of pusillanimous

Origin : early 15c., from Late Latin pusillanimis "having little courage" (used in Church Latin to translate Greek oligopsychos "small-souled"), from Latin pusillis "very weak, little" (diminutive of pullus "young animal;" see foal (n.)) + animus "spirit, courage" (see animus). Related: Pusillanimously; pusillanimousness.

adj fearful

Example sentences :

It is a pusillanimous desertion of our work to gaze after our neighbors.
Extract from : « Essays, First Series » by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Catharine was glad to have the pusillanimous Charles out of the way.
Extract from : « Henry IV, Makers of History » by John S. C. Abbott

A blind faith is only one remove from a pusillanimous skepticism.
Extract from : « Christianity and Greek Philosophy » by Benjamin Franklin Cocker

He was of a mean appearance, and, like his father, pusillanimous to a degree.
Extract from : « The Romany Rye » by George Borrow

The senators seemed to take a pleasure in pusillanimous adulation.
Extract from : « Darkness and Dawn » by Frederic W. Farrar

To remain where he was was certain death, and a shameful, pusillanimous death to boot.
Extract from : « Patraas » by R. H. Busk

It would have been pusillanimous, cowardly, and unworthy the Governor of the State.
Extract from : « The Great Riots of New York 1712 to 1873 » by J.T. Headley

It was, to their minds, an anticlimax, a pusillanimous surrender.
Extract from : « Jefferson and his Colleagues » by Allen Johnson

Why, confound your pusillanimous souls, what do you mean by talking to me in that fashion?
Extract from : « Gold » by Stewart White

Joan hung up the telephone, mortified by her own pusillanimous behavior.
Extract from : « Why Joan? » by Eleanor Mercein Kelly

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019