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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

Pusillanimous

Adjective

IPA /ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməs/

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Meaning in plain English

Lacking courage or determination; timid or cowardly.

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Pronunciation

Pusillanimous/ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməs/

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  1. A difficult stand is needed

  2. Fear prevents any action

Pusillanimous is a strongly critical word for lacking courage.

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  1. His pusillanimous refusal to speak up during the meeting disappointed the entire team.
  2. Don’t be pusillanimous—stand up for what you believe in.

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His ________ refusal to speak up during the meeting disappointed the entire team.
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Pusillanimous — Lacking courage or determination; timid or cowardly.

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Lacking courage or determination; timid or cowardly.

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Word origin

From ecclesiastical Latin pusillanimis, combining pusillus, meaning very small, and animus, meaning mind or spirit, with the English ending -ous.

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Pusillanimous is formal and strongly disapproving. It criticises a lack of courage or willingness to take risks.

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Pusillanimous

/ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməs/ (Adjective)

“Formal and strongly critical. Pusillanimous accuses someone of lacking courage; it is not a neutral description of shyness.”

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