Find the synonyms or antonyms of a word



Synonyms for pusillanimous


Grammar : Adj
Spell : pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muhs
Phonetic Transcription : ˌpyu səˈlæn ə məs



Définition of pusillanimous

Origin :
  • early 15c., from Late Latin pusillanimis "having little courage" (used in Church Latin to translate Greek oligopsychos "small-souled"), from Latin pusillis "very weak, little" (diminutive of pullus "young animal;" see foal (n.)) + animus "spirit, courage" (see animus). Related: Pusillanimously; pusillanimousness.
  • adj fearful
Example sentences :
  • It is a pusillanimous desertion of our work to gaze after our neighbors.
  • Extract from : « Essays, First Series » by Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Catharine was glad to have the pusillanimous Charles out of the way.
  • Extract from : « Henry IV, Makers of History » by John S. C. Abbott
  • A blind faith is only one remove from a pusillanimous skepticism.
  • Extract from : « Christianity and Greek Philosophy » by Benjamin Franklin Cocker
  • He was of a mean appearance, and, like his father, pusillanimous to a degree.
  • Extract from : « The Romany Rye » by George Borrow
  • The senators seemed to take a pleasure in pusillanimous adulation.
  • Extract from : « Darkness and Dawn » by Frederic W. Farrar
  • To remain where he was was certain death, and a shameful, pusillanimous death to boot.
  • Extract from : « Patraas » by R. H. Busk
  • It would have been pusillanimous, cowardly, and unworthy the Governor of the State.
  • Extract from : « The Great Riots of New York 1712 to 1873 » by J.T. Headley
  • It was, to their minds, an anticlimax, a pusillanimous surrender.
  • Extract from : « Jefferson and his Colleagues » by Allen Johnson
  • Why, confound your pusillanimous souls, what do you mean by talking to me in that fashion?
  • Extract from : « Gold » by Stewart White
  • Joan hung up the telephone, mortified by her own pusillanimous behavior.
  • Extract from : « Why Joan? » by Eleanor Mercein Kelly

Most wanted synonyms

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019