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

Examples 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 pusillanimous 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 This book should—but won’t—be read by Joe Biden’s national security team, not to mention the pusillanimous leaders of Germany and France. Steve Forbes, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 His pusillanimous and fraudulent conduct must be stopped. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 8 July 2022 Where the president should be direct and full-throated, Biden has been, at best, indirect and pusillanimous. The Editors, National Review, 12 May 2022 Rifkin’s story should rage against the pusillanimous like Roth and the hero of Look Back in Anger. Armond White, National Review, 4 Feb. 2022 The English were led by the exemplary Admiral Edward Vernon — after whom the Washington family home, Mount Vernon, would be named — and the incompetent, pusillanimous General Thomas Wentworth. Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pusillanimous
Adjective
  • Just look at the Salem Witch Trials, which targeted people who weren’t afraid to live somewhat unconventional lives, like women who were financially-independent or unmarried.
    Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Democrats and Republicans are afraid that their civil rights and their civil liberties are in jeopardy and look to the courts to protect their 14th and 15th Amendment rights.
    John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Between the lines: One view is that these actions are simply craven pandering.
    Felix Salmon, Axios, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The main one is that the powerbrokers in the MLB offices are craven, and their souls have been replaced with line graphs going up and up and up.
    Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 18 July 2024
Adjective
  • Instead, the anti-death penalty interests in this country conduct their arguments in insidious and even cowardly ways, all in effort to avoid a clear yes or no debate about the death penalty itself.
    Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Social media has erupted with praise for this cowardly attack.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Growers reported a drop in workers showing up to their jobs, and advocacy groups saw a surge of frightened families show up to legal workshops on how to protect themselves against deportation.
    Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
  • When Julia arrived with a can of cat food, the first kitten had already been adopted, but the second—a frightened and feisty tabby—was still there.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • And the really jaw-dropping part of AMLO’s gutless abdication?
    Tim Padgett, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2024
  • 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
Adjective
  • Zuckerberg blasts Biden admin on Joe Rogan; Dave Portnoy calls CEO ‘spineless jellyfish’ Robby Soave and Lynda Tran react to Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
    The Hill, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
  • There are about 60 games left and plenty of time to make up that kind of ground, especially in the AL West against the spineless Mariners and after getting through the Astros last year.
    Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 23 July 2024
Adjective
  • Read Next Florida Shelter thought dog was scared — but something else was wrong.
    Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Advertisement Thirty years ago, Blake was himself a scared kid.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The look features bright coral eyeshadow covering the eyelid, a fuchsia shade in the crease, and a swipe of fluorescent yellow eyeliner on the outside half of the eye and right under the brow.
    Andrea Park, Teen Vogue, 20 July 2017
  • Three prominent Austin chefs teamed up with the Youngblood family to build a new restaurant from scratch that looks like a legacy chicken dinner house, down to the bright blue-and-yellow colors and the helpings of hot yeast rolls with honey.
    Bud Kennedy, star-telegram, 19 July 2017

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Cite this Entry

“Pusillanimous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pusillanimous. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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