backboneless
Lacking moral fortitude
Backboneless means lacking a spine, either literally or figuratively.
Invertebrates are backboneless creatures.
More often the word describes someone without courage or moral firmness: a backboneless politician who caves to every pressure group.
The figurative sense dominates—spineless serves the same purpose and is more common.
Drifting marine stinger
- octopusEight-limbed sea mollusk
- squidTen-armed marine mollusk
- wormLimbless soil invertebrate
- slugNaked terrestrial mollusk
anemone · coral · sponge · cuttlefish · nudibranch · sea cucumber · starfish · mollusk
Lacking bravery or nerve
- cravenContemptibly lacking nerve
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- chickenheartedLacking bravery or nerve
yellow · cowardly · timid · fearful · dastardly · milksop · poltroon · weakling
Lacking firmness of purpose
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- wishy-washyLacking firmness or decisiveness
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
unassertive · compliant · acquiescent · passive · docile · servile · obsequious · sycophantic
jellyfish
Drifting marine stinger
slug · anemone · coral · sponge · cuttlefish · nudibranch · sea cucumber · starfish · mollusk · cephalopod
gutless
Lacking bravery or nerve
- cravenContemptibly lacking nerve
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
chickenhearted · yellow · cowardly · timid · fearful · dastardly · milksop · poltroon · weakling · recreant
irresolute
Lacking firmness of purpose
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- wishy-washyLacking firmness or decisiveness
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
vacillating · unassertive · compliant · acquiescent · passive · docile · servile · obsequious · sycophantic · fawning
pliant
Easily bent or influenced
floppy · yielding · malleable · flaccid · soft · droopy · saggy · wilting · collapsible · unsupported
backbonelessresolute
Fixed in purpose
steadfast · strong-willed · firm · determined · courageous
backbonelessvertebrate
Spinal column animal
rigid · sturdy · stiff · solid · structured
back, bone, backbone, boneless, spineless, spinelessness, backboned, backbones, invertebrates