faint-hearted

Examples

• All

• And trust me when I say, these contests are not for the faint-hearted.

  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

• The future doesn't belong to the faint-hearted.

  '85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016)

• Warning: This is not a post for the faint-hearted.

  Blog text (13)

• Production and marketing of products derived from municipal waste are not for the faint-hearted.

  Academic text (1998)

• Stating in public what science says about the risks of global warming is not an experience for the faint-hearted.

  Blog text (29)

• Going underground was not for the faint-hearted or the claustrophobic.

  Fiction book (2001)

• We all know that going to medical school has a price tag that isn't for the faint-hearted.

  Blog text (26)

• It is not a story for the squeamish or the faint-hearted.

  Deranged (1974)

• Again, changing the community college curriculum is a task that is not for those who are faint-hearted or thin-skinned; true reform will seem painfully venturous to established community college norms and collegial harmony.

  Academic text (1997)

• Drilling for oil and gas is not for the faint-hearted.

Synonyms

W

weak

vsfaint-hearted

312 1.5

Not strong in will and easily gives in to pressure

focuses more narrowly on fear and timid behaviour rather than moral weakness

C

cowardly

vsfaint-hearted

84 3.9

Feeling fear and avoiding dangerous or difficult situations

implies timidity but may lack the clear avoidance focus

T

timid

vsfaint-hearted

60 3.5

Shy and afraid to do new or risky things

leans more toward being discouraged or lacking boldness

G

gutless

vsfaint-hearted

• Offensive

26 6.0

Not brave enough to face danger or difficult things

is similar but often sounds less slangy or coarse

W

wimpy

vsfaint-hearted

• Offensive

24 5.7

Lacking strength, courage, or strong flavor

is similar but uses less informal, more neutral language

F

faint

vsfaint-hearted

13 6.1

Timid and not showing much courage

adds a slightly stronger sense of being easily discouraged or timid

W

wishy-washy

vsfaint-hearted

• Informal

12 7.3

Not firm or brave when making decisions

is more about being discouraged or timid rather than indecision

C

craven

vsfaint-hearted

• Formal

11 8.7

Being very afraid and not willing to face danger

expresses weakness without the added moral condemnation

F

frail

vsfaint-hearted

• Offensive

8 4.9

Weak in character and likely to give in under pressure

highlights timid fear rather than a broadly weak character

L

lily-livered

vsfaint-hearted

• Offensive

3 9.9

Not brave and easily frightened

is a general modern adjective without the archaic tone

P

pusillanimous

vsfaint-hearted

• Offensive

2 9.9

Easily afraid and not willing to take risks

is more common and less formal in everyday speech

F

fainthearted

vsfaint-hearted

1 7.7

Too afraid to try risky or difficult things

is the hyphenated form used in some writing styles

T

timorous

vsfaint-hearted

• Formal

1 8.6

Feeling nervous and lacking confidence in new situations

is plainer and more direct for everyday timidity

T

trepid

vsfaint-hearted

1 9.9

Feeling nervous and afraid to do something new

carries a stronger sense of failing to show courage

W

weak-kneed

vsfaint-hearted

• Informal

1 7.1

Not brave enough to face difficult situations

is broader and can mean general timidness rather than weak resolve

W

wimpish

vsfaint-hearted

• Offensive

1 7.9

Not brave or strong enough to face difficult things

focuses more specifically on fear and lack of boldness

P

poor-spirited

vsfaint-hearted

9.0

Having little courage and giving up easily

is slightly more common and focuses on timid fear rather than discouragement

Antonyms

B

brave

906 1.0

Has courage when facing danger, pain or fear

B

bold

257 2.7

Willing to take risks and act confidently

How Timid

cowardly

84 3.9

faint-hearted

3 6.8

timid

60 3.5

hesitant

73 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology