Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a receding or very weak chin: Describes a person whose chin is set back from the line of the face or is not prominent.
   • Weak or ineffectual in character: (Informal, often derogatory) Used to describe someone perceived as lacking strength, determination, or authority.

Usage

• The primary meaning describes a physical facial feature. It is often used in a descriptive, neutral way in contexts like medicine or character description.
• The informal, figurative meaning is used critically to imply a lack of forcefulness or backbone. It is frequently found in British English.

Examples

• Physical Description:

  • The cartoon character was drawn with a distinctly chinless profile.
  • He had a chinless look that made his face appear very round.

• Character Description (Informal):

  • The critics dismissed the new manager as a chinless wonder who couldn't make a tough decision.
  • He came from a privileged but chinless aristocracy.

Advanced Usage

• "Chinless wonder": (British English, informal, derogatory) A common idiom referring to a person, especially from an upper-class background, who is perceived as weak, foolish, or ineffectual.
  • The company was run by a bunch of chinless wonders who had inherited their positions.

Variants and Related Words

• Chinlessness (noun): The state or quality of being chinless, either physically or in character.
  • His chinlessness was more a matter of character than of anatomy.

Synonyms

• Weak-chinned: (Adjective) Having a physically weak or receding chin.
• Ineffectual: (Adjective) Not producing any or the desired effect; lacking forcefulness (for the figurative sense).
• Feeble: (Adjective) Lacking physical or mental strength (for the figurative sense).

Antonyms

• Strong-jawed: (Adjective) Having a prominent, well-defined jaw and chin.
• Determined: (Adjective) Having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it (for the figurative sense).

Adjective

1. having a receding chin