Word
spineless
Phoneticsspine·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈspaɪnɫəs/
UK/spˈaɪnləs/
Definition
adj. lacking the courage to make a decision or stand up for yourself. You use this to describe someone who is too weak to act when they should.
adj. lacking the moral or physical strength to act decisively or defend one's own interests. Often used figuratively to describe a lack of backbone or courage.
Examples
“He is too spineless to tell his boss he is wrong.”
“The committee was criticized for being spineless and failing to address the serious safety concerns raised by the workers.”
“A spineless leader who refuses to take a firm stance on critical issues will eventually lose the trust of both their colleagues and the public they serve.”
Examples
simple
“He is too spineless to tell his boss he is wrong.”
contextual
“The committee was criticized for being spineless and failing to address the serious safety concerns raised by the workers.”
complex
“A spineless leader who refuses to take a firm stance on critical issues will eventually lose the trust of both their colleagues and the public they serve.”
Etymology
From spine + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/spineless