Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
faintheartedness

faintheartedness

1 7.9
A feeling of being too afraid to try new or difficult things
  • noun
  • /ˈfeɪntˌhɑːrtɪdnəs/
translation icon : cobardía
  • She showed her faintheartedness by hesitating before climbing the steep cliff that her friends had already conquered.

Examples

  • The Chinese failed to comprehend Nixon's disgrace and condemned American faintheartedness.

    Academic text (1991)

  • His faintheartedness prevented him from speaking up during the meeting, even though he had good ideas.

  • Despite the faintheartedness of the team in the final minutes of the game, they managed to push through to victory.

Synonyms

timidity
vsfaintheartedness
7 5.8

Feeling too shy or afraid to try new things

focuses on fearfulness when facing danger or direct challenge
timidness
vsfaintheartedness
1 4.9

Feeling afraid and not confident in new or unknown situations

refers more to fearfulness when facing danger or challenge
faintness
vsfaintheartedness
5.8

A lack of courage or firm will when facing difficulty

is about fearfulness when facing danger or challenge
timorousness
vsfaintheartedness
9.3

A strong fear of trying new things or meeting new people

applies to fearfulness in directly facing danger or challenges

Antonyms

bravery
104 2.3

A person's willingness to face danger or pain without fear

fearlessness
8 4.1

Not being afraid in danger or trouble

stoutheartedness
9.2

Brave and determined actions in hard times

How Brave

heroism
57 4.2
bravery
104 2.3
cowardice
46 5.5
faintheartedness
1 7.9
timidity
7 5.8

Surface Forms

faintheartedness singular
faintheartednesses plural

Morphology

faintheartedness = fainthearted (transparent) = faint + heart + ed + ness

The adjective 'fainthearted' ('faint' + 'hearted') clearly means lacking heart/courage, and adding '-ness' forms the noun denoting that quality.

Etymology

Faintheartedness comes from the parts faint, meaning 'weak', and heart, meaning 'courage', so it gives the picture of a 'weak heart'. That's why faintheartedness means a lack of boldness or courage and a fear of taking risks.