fainthearted
Lacking in courage
Fainthearted means lacking courage or resolve, easily discouraged.
A fainthearted person shrinks from difficulty or danger: This job is not for the fainthearted.
The word suggests timidity rather than cowardice—someone who loses heart quickly rather than someone who never had it.
Lacking courage or confidence
- cravenContemptibly lacking nerve
- spinelessLacking courage or resolve
- cowardlyWithout bravery or nerve
- gutlessLacking bravery or nerve
pusillanimous · lily-livered · yellow-bellied · weak-kneed · mousy · shrinking · cowering · quailing
Reserved and retiring
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- meekHumbly unassertive
- timorousShowing nervous apprehension
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
reserved · withdrawn · self-conscious · inhibited · unassertive · reticent · mousy · wallflower
Troubled by uncertainty
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- scaredFeeling fear or alarm
- fearfulFull of fright
frightened · worried · trepidatious · skittish · jumpy · jittery · wary · alarmed
Weak and ineffective
- weakLacking power or force
- spinelessLacking courage or resolve
- ineffectualFailing to achieve purpose
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
passive · compliant · docile · defeatist · surrendering · capitulating · yielding · acquiescent
Lacking firmness of purpose
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- uncertainNot firmly known
reluctant · tentative · ambivalent · doubtful · dithering · halting · noncommittal · wishy-washy
timid
Lacking courage or confidence
gutless · pusillanimous · lily-livered · yellow-bellied · weak-kneed · mousy · shrinking · cowering · quailing · poltroon
shy
Reserved and retiring
diffident · reserved · withdrawn · self-conscious · inhibited · unassertive · reticent · mousy · wallflower · shrinking violet
anxious
Troubled by uncertainty
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- scaredFeeling fear or alarm
fearful · frightened · worried · trepidatious · skittish · jumpy · jittery · wary · alarmed · panicky
feeble
Weak and ineffective
- weakLacking power or force
- spinelessLacking courage or resolve
- ineffectualFailing to achieve purpose
submissive · passive · compliant · docile · defeatist · surrendering · capitulating · yielding · acquiescent · pushover
irresolute
Lacking firmness of purpose
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
uncertain · reluctant · tentative · ambivalent · doubtful · dithering · halting · noncommittal · wishy-washy · uncommitted
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- Heart compoundswarmhearted, coldhearted, kindhearted, wholehearted, halfhearted
faintheartedbrave
Showing courage despite fear
courageous · bold · fearless · valiant · intrepid
fainthearteddetermined
Firmly committed to purpose
resolute · stalwart · steadfast · unwavering · indomitable
faintheartedconfident
Sure of oneself
self-confident · self-assured · assured · bold · decisive