faint-hearted
Lacking in nerve
Faint-hearted means lacking courage or resolve, easily discouraged.
The faint-hearted shy away from difficulty or danger: This hike is not for the faint-hearted.
The word suggests timidity rather than cowardice—someone whose heart grows faint at the prospect of challenge rather than someone who acts shamefully under pressure.
Full of fright
- cravenContemptibly lacking nerve
- spinelessLacking courage or resolve
- gutlessLacking bravery or nerve
- chicken-heartedLacking bravery or nerve
lily-livered · yellow · pusillanimous · dastardly · scared · frightened · spooked · intimidated
Uneasy and apprehensive
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
- jitteryAnxiously restless
tense · edgy · panicky · fretful · agitated · tremulous · overwrought · nail-biting
Reserved and retiring
- meekHumbly unassertive
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- timorousShowing nervous apprehension
- reservedRestrained in manner
diffident · demure · mousy · unassertive · submissive · docile · mild · soft
Unable to make choices
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- uncertainNot firmly known
- reluctantUnwilling to act
ambivalent · irresolute · vacillating · doubtful · unsure · dithering · faltering · halting
Stripped of confidence
- crestfallenSad from disappointment
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- dismayedDistressed by shock
- dispiritedHaving lost heart
dejected · despondent · downcast · pessimistic · hopeless · resigned · unmotivated · daunted
fearful
Full of fright
chicken-hearted · lily-livered · yellow · pusillanimous · dastardly · scared · frightened · spooked · intimidated · weak-kneed
nervous
Uneasy and apprehensive
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
jittery · tense · edgy · panicky · fretful · agitated · tremulous · overwrought · nail-biting · queasy
shy
Reserved and retiring
reserved · diffident · demure · mousy · unassertive · submissive · docile · mild · soft · gentle
indecisive
Unable to make choices
reluctant · ambivalent · irresolute · vacillating · doubtful · unsure · dithering · faltering · halting · shilly-shallying
demoralized
Stripped of confidence
- crestfallenSad from disappointment
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- dismayedDistressed by shock
dispirited · dejected · despondent · downcast · pessimistic · hopeless · resigned · unmotivated · daunted · overwhelmed
- ___-hearted wordssoft-hearted, heavy-hearted, big-hearted, good-hearted, half-hearted
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- uneasyanxious, nervous, jittery, edgy, tense
faint-heartedbrave
Showing courage despite fear
courageous · bold · fearless · dauntless · valiant
faint-heartedstalwart
Unwavering loyal supporter
resolute · steely · steadfast · unwavering · determined