faint-heartedness
Absence of nerve
Faint-heartedness is a lack of courage or resolve, a timidity that holds one back from bold action.
The word suggests someone whose heart falters—who shrinks from difficulty or risk rather than facing it: His faint-heartedness kept him from speaking up in meetings.
It carries a note of disappointment or reproach, implying the person could summon courage but doesn't.
Fearful lack of courage
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- spinelessnessLack of courage
- cravennessContemptible lack of bravery
- fearfulnessChronic state of dread
cowardliness · weak-kneed · chicken-heartedness · poltroonery · yellow-bellied · dastardliness · gutlessness · unmanliness
Failure to decide
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- irresolutionLack of firm decision
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
tentativeness · second-guessing · equivocation · reluctance · hesitancy · ambivalence · uncertainty · faltering
Persistent apprehensive distress
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
unease · worry · foreboding · jitters · disquiet · panic · fright · alarm
Weakness of body
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- feeblenessLack of strength
- infirmityWeakness from illness or age
- impotenceLack of strength or power
powerlessness · ineffectiveness · fragility · incapacity · inadequacy · enervation · debility · lack of backbone
timidity
Fearful lack of courage
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- spinelessnessLack of courage
- cravennessContemptible lack of bravery
fearfulness · cowardliness · weak-kneed · chicken-heartedness · poltroonery · yellow-bellied · dastardliness · gutlessness · unmanliness · meekness
indecision
Failure to decide
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- irresolutionLack of firm decision
dithering · tentativeness · second-guessing · equivocation · reluctance · hesitancy · ambivalence · uncertainty · faltering · stalling
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
nervousness · unease · worry · foreboding · jitters · disquiet · panic · fright · alarm · fearfulness
frailty
Weakness of body
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- feeblenessLack of strength
- infirmityWeakness from illness or age
impotence · powerlessness · ineffectiveness · fragility · incapacity · inadequacy · enervation · debility · lack of backbone
- timiditybashfulness, shyness, timidness, meekness, sheepishness
faint-heartednesscourage
Fortitude facing danger
bravery · fearlessness · boldness · valor · intrepidity
faint-heartednessfortitude
Enduring courage under pain
resolution · resoluteness · determination · steadfastness · tenacity