pusillanimous
Pusillanimous (adjective) means displaying dishonorable cowardice or a timidity that invites contempt. Example: “Critics called the government's response pusillanimous and half-hearted.”
How to use pusillanimous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPusillanimous describes someone acting in a cowardly, spineless way.
It's a formal, literary word, more likely to appear in writing or political commentary than everyday speech.
Don't confuse it with unanimous, which is about everyone agreeing, not about being cowardly.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Critics called the government's response _____ and half-hearted.
Etymology
The word derives from the Latin pusillanimis, meaning faint-hearted or timid, with the English suffix -ous added to form the adjective.
