pusillanimously
- adverb
- /ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməsli/
- Offensive
:
de manera pusilánime
- She pusillanimously backed down from the challenge, fearing the consequences of failure.
Examples
-
The battle will hinge on whether they succeed in blaming the free market for our disaster, and whether Romney will let them get away with it (as McCain so pusillanimously did).
Blog text (1) -
He spoke pusillanimously, hesitant to voice his true opinions in front of the group.
-
He avoided ringing the bell and pusillanimously knocked at our door, not quite being there.
Fiction book (1996) -
Feeling pusillanimous, she chose not to confront her boss about the unfair treatment.
Synonyms
15
1.0
Behave in a quiet, nervous way around other people
7
3.2
Move or speak in a shy, nervous way because of low confidence
1
8.4
In a very frightened way that shows no courage
1
7.9
In a shy way that shows little confidence
1
8.2
To act in a shy and scared way
In a cowardly way that shows no courage
In a way that shows no courage and avoids standing up for oneself
In a way that shows little courage or confidence
In a weak, quiet way that shows little confidence
To do something in a nervous or afraid way
In a shy, silly way that shows little confidence
Antonyms
How Brave
Surface Forms
Morphology
pusillanimously = pusillanimous (opaque) = pusill + anim + ous + ly
The adverb is formed by the regular addition of '-ly' to the adjective 'pusillanimous', a productive and immediately recognizable process.
Etymology
The word pusillanimously comes from the Latin parts pusillus ('very small') and animus ('spirit' or 'courage'), so it really means 'small spirit'. You can see the root animus in English words like animate and animation, which mean 'life' or 'spirit', and that is why to act pusillanimously is to behave with little courage or to act timidly.