adjective
spineless
Spineless (adjective) means lacking courage or willpower; unable to stand up for oneself. Example: “The manager was too spineless to confront the problem employee.”
adjective
1
Lacking courage or willpower; unable to stand up for oneself.
"The manager was too spineless to confront the problem employee."
2
Having no spinal column, as in many invertebrate animals.
"Worms and jellyfish are spineless creatures."
How to use spineless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCowardly and lacking backbone, or literally without a spine.
Common pairings
a spineless coward
spineless invertebrates
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more spineless
- Superlative
- most spineless
Fill the gap
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The manager was too _____ to confront the problem employee.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for spineless
useless
ageless
wireless
hopeless
homeless
tireless
careless
lifeless
baseless
clueless
timeless
loveless
See all rhymes for spineless →
Frequently asked questions
What does “spineless” mean?
The word “spineless” means lacking courage or willpower; unable to stand up for oneself. In plain terms, cowardly and lacking backbone, or literally without a spine.
How do you use “spineless” in a sentence?
Here is “spineless” used in a sentence: “The manager was too spineless to confront the problem employee.”
What part of speech is “spineless”?
“Spineless” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “spineless” have?
“Spineless” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: lacking courage or willpower; unable to stand up for oneself.
