weak-kneed
Lacking moral backbone
Weak-kneed means lacking resolve or courage, especially when facing pressure or difficulty.
Someone weak-kneed buckles under stress rather than standing firm: The weak-kneed committee caved to industry lobbyists.
The image is of knees trembling or giving way from fear.
Occasionally literal—knees weakening from shock or exhaustion—but usually figurative and dismissive.
Lacking courage or resolve
- gutlessLacking bravery or nerve
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- lily-liveredWeak and easily frightened
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
craven · timorous · chicken-hearted · yellow-bellied · meek · submissive · cowering · shrinking
Tending to teeter
- shakyTrembling or unstable
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- totteringMoving unsteadily, nearly falling
- teeteringUnstably balanced, nearly falling
buckling · unstable · staggering · swaying · faltering · quivering · rubbery · collapsing
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- hesitantSlow to act
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
wishy-washy · waffling · shilly-shallying · equivocating · faltering · uncertain · unsure · ambivalent
spineless
Lacking courage or resolve
- gutlessLacking bravery or nerve
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- lily-liveredWeak and easily frightened
pusillanimous · craven · timorous · chicken-hearted · yellow-bellied · meek · submissive · cowering · shrinking · mousy
wobbly
Tending to teeter
- shakyTrembling or unstable
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- totteringMoving unsteadily, nearly falling
teetering · buckling · unstable · staggering · swaying · faltering · quivering · rubbery · collapsing · gelatinous
wavering
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- hesitantSlow to act
dithering · wishy-washy · waffling · shilly-shallying · equivocating · faltering · uncertain · unsure · ambivalent · noncommittal
trembling
Involuntary shaking motion
- shakingRapid involuntary movement
- quakingTrembling or shuddering
- quiveringShaking slightly and rapidly
terrified · frightened · scared · petrified · panic-stricken · paralyzed · frozen · rattled · unnerved · spooked
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless