spineless

[ spahyn-lis ]
/ ˈspaɪn lɪs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR spineless ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having no spines or quills.
having no spine or backbone.
having a weak spine; limp.
without moral force, resolution, or courage; feeble: a spineless, lily-livered coward.

Origin of spineless

First recorded in 1820–30; spine + -less

OTHER WORDS FROM spineless

spine·less·ly, adverb spine·less·ness, noun

Words nearby spineless

spine-chilling, spine-tingling, spinebash, spinel, spinel ruby, spineless, spinescent, spinet, spingarn, spiniferous, spinifex

Words related to spineless

invertebrate, fearful, feeble, frightened, gutless, impotent, inadequate, ineffective, ineffectual, irresolute, lily-livered, nerveless, soft, spiritless, squeamish, submissive, timid, vacillating, weak, weak-willed

Example sentences from the Web for spineless

British Dictionary definitions for spineless

spineless
/ (ˈspaɪnlɪs) /

adjective

lacking a backbone; invertebrate
having no spiny processes spineless stems
lacking strength of character, resolution, or courage

Derived forms of spineless

spinelessly, adverb spinelessness, noun