wuss
One lacking backbone
A wuss is a weak or timid person—someone who lacks courage or physical toughness.
The word carries mild contempt: Don't be such a wuss.
It often appears when someone backs down from a challenge or complains about minor discomfort.
The verb wuss out means to chicken out: He wussed out at the last minute.
Timid, feeble person
- weaklingFeeble person
- cowardPerson lacking bravery
- milksopFeeble, unassertive person
- pushoverEasily defeated opponent
sissy · crybaby · chicken · yellow-belly · scaredy-cat · jellyfish · namby-pamby · cream puff
Without bravery or nerve
- scaredFeeling fear or alarm
- frightenedExperiencing sudden fear
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- timidLacking courage or confidence
anxious · apprehensive · skittish · jittery · spineless · terrified · squeamish · chicken-hearted
Humbly unassertive
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- unassertiveNot forceful or bold
- docileEasily controlled or taught
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
pushover · yielding · deferential · passive · timid · mousy · shrinking · spineless
wimp
Timid, feeble person
pushover · sissy · crybaby · chicken · yellow-belly · scaredy-cat · jellyfish · namby-pamby · cream puff · weenie
cowardly
Without bravery or nerve
- scaredFeeling fear or alarm
- frightenedExperiencing sudden fear
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
timid · anxious · apprehensive · skittish · jittery · spineless · terrified · squeamish · chicken-hearted · lily-livered
meek
Humbly unassertive
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- unassertiveNot forceful or bold
- docileEasily controlled or taught
compliant · pushover · yielding · deferential · passive · timid · mousy · shrinking · spineless · weak-willed
pussy
Informal word for cat
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- teasing insultsdoofus, goofball, dork, dweeb, goober
- cowardscoward, chicken, wimp, milquetoast, poltroon
- kidspeakboo-boo, booboo, cooties, gimme, gonna
- tauntstaunts, taunt, taunting, neener neener, insults
- suckerssucker, lollipop, Dum Dum, Tootsie Pop, all-day sucker
wusshero
One admired for courage
daredevil · warrior · gladiator · brave soul · lion
- wuss outWithdraw from fear
- wussed outWithdrew from fear
- wussing outCowardly withdrawal from commitment