pigeon-hearted
Lacking any courage
Pigeon-hearted means timid or cowardly—having the heart of a pigeon rather than a lion.
The word is old-fashioned and literary: The pigeon-hearted king fled rather than face battle.
It belongs to a family of animal-heart compounds (lion-hearted, chicken-hearted) that assign courage or cowardice based on folk beliefs about animal temperaments.
Lacking courage or confidence
- fearfulFull of fright
- cravenContemptibly lacking nerve
- spinelessLacking courage or resolve
- gutlessLacking bravery or nerve
pusillanimous · lily-livered · weak-kneed · yellow · trembling · shrinking · cowering · quailing
Moderate in intensity
harmless · inoffensive · unassertive · passive · submissive · peaceable · nonconfrontational · retiring
timid
Lacking courage or confidence
gutless · pusillanimous · lily-livered · weak-kneed · yellow · trembling · shrinking · cowering · quailing · dastardly
mild
Moderate in intensity
docile · harmless · inoffensive · unassertive · passive · submissive · peaceable · nonconfrontational · retiring · yielding