Spineless
/ˈspaɪnləs/adjective
Lacking courage, not brave.
He was too spineless to stand up to his boss.
Often appears as...
- spineless coward
- spineless jellyfish
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Lacking a backbone, as in some types of animals.
Jellyfish are spineless creatures.
Often appears as...
- spineless invertebrate
- spineless animal
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Lacking courage, not brave.
He was too spineless to stand up to his boss.
Often appears as...
- spineless coward
- spineless jellyfish
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Lacking a backbone, as in some types of animals.
Jellyfish are spineless creatures.
Often appears as...
- spineless invertebrate
- spineless animal
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Tone
Using 'spineless' to describe someone has a derogatory meaning, suggesting a lack of strength.
Don’t be spineless; confront the issue!
Pro Tip 2/3Conversational
'Spineless' is often used in informal situations among friends or in the media.
The character in the movie was spineless and let others make decisions for him.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotionally Charged
The word can evoke strong negative emotions; use it cautiously to avoid offending someone.
When he called her spineless, she felt deeply insulted.
Compare with
cowardfearfulindecisivetimid
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Video examples
Mike deGruy: Hooked by...
And the aquarium had a lot of big fish tanks but not a lot of invertebrate displays, and being the spineless guy, I thought, well I'll just go out in the field and collect these wonderful animals I had been learning about as a student and bring them in, and I built these elaborate sets and put them on display.
Video examples
Mike deGruy: Hooked by...
And the aquarium had a lot of big fish tanks but not a lot of invertebrate displays, and being the spineless guy, I thought, well I'll just go out in the field and collect these wonderful animals I had been learning about as a student and bring them in, and I built these elaborate sets and put them on display.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Orson Welles
American Actor
As a producer, sitting on the other side of the desk, I have never once had an agent go out on a limb for his client and fight for him. I've never heard one say, 'No, just a minute! This is the actor you should use.' They will always say, 'You don't like him? I've got somebody else.' They're totally spineless.
Quote examples
Whitney Cummings
American Comedian
I feel like, in a lot of shows where the woman is in charge, the woman is this ball buster and the guy is sort of weak and spineless. And that's never been my experience in a relationship. I think it's much more interesting that the guy is the boss. And there are stakes.
Quote examples
Frank Lautenberg
American Politician
One thing I have learned in my time in politics is that if one of the parties is shameless, the other party cannot afford to be spineless.
Quote examples
LZ Granderson
American Journalist
The ugly truth is it's the spineless parents who parade their undisciplined children around like royalty that make people dislike kids.
Quote examples
Mona Eltahawy
Egyptian Journalist
Too many on the Left are earnest about nothing at all, sadly. They've been rendered spineless by snarkiness - not least on Twitter.
Quote examples
Jesse Ventura
American Politician
Democrats are so spineless, so afraid to go against the tide... but dissension is the greatest form of patriotism.
Quote examples
Shane Douglas
American Wrestler
Your Shawn Michaels can lose his smile, and he's so afraid of me, he comes out and hands me his belt. Spineless!
Quote examples
Bernice King
American
Love is not a weak, spineless emotion; it is a powerful moral force on the side of justice.
Quote examples
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
American Poet
These are international criminals, and the spineless Democrats are doing nothing about it.
Quote examples
Tanushree Dutta
Indian Model
Tinsel town is full of liars, show-offs and spineless hypocrites.
Quote examples
Orson Welles
American Actor
As a producer, sitting on the other side of the desk, I have never once had an agent go out on a limb for his client and fight for him. I've never heard one say, 'No, just a minute! This is the actor you should use.' They will always say, 'You don't like him? I've got somebody else.' They're totally spineless.
Quote examples
Whitney Cummings
American Comedian
I feel like, in a lot of shows where the woman is in charge, the woman is this ball buster and the guy is sort of weak and spineless. And that's never been my experience in a relationship. I think it's much more interesting that the guy is the boss. And there are stakes.
Quote examples
Frank Lautenberg
American Politician
One thing I have learned in my time in politics is that if one of the parties is shameless, the other party cannot afford to be spineless.
Quote examples
LZ Granderson
American Journalist
The ugly truth is it's the spineless parents who parade their undisciplined children around like royalty that make people dislike kids.
Quote examples
Mona Eltahawy
Egyptian Journalist
Too many on the Left are earnest about nothing at all, sadly. They've been rendered spineless by snarkiness - not least on Twitter.
Quote examples
Jesse Ventura
American Politician
Democrats are so spineless, so afraid to go against the tide... but dissension is the greatest form of patriotism.
Quote examples
Shane Douglas
American Wrestler
Your Shawn Michaels can lose his smile, and he's so afraid of me, he comes out and hands me his belt. Spineless!
Quote examples
Bernice King
American
Love is not a weak, spineless emotion; it is a powerful moral force on the side of justice.
Quote examples
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
American Poet
These are international criminals, and the spineless Democrats are doing nothing about it.
Quote examples
Tanushree Dutta
Indian Model
Tinsel town is full of liars, show-offs and spineless hypocrites.
Example 1 of 10
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