poor-spirited
/'puə'spiritid/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking courage, strength, and determination; contemptibly timid or fearful: Describes a person who is easily frightened, lacks resolve, and shows a weak or cowardly character.
Usage
- The adjective "poor-spirited" is used to describe a person's character or behavior. It is a formal and somewhat literary term, often implying criticism or contempt for a lack of bravery or moral strength.
- It typically precedes a noun (e.g., a poor-spirited individual) or follows a linking verb (e.g., He was poor-spirited).
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "to show a poor-spirited attitude": to demonstrate a cowardly or weak-willed approach.
- Showing a poor-spirited attitude in negotiations will only lead to worse terms.
Variants and Related Words
- Poor-spiritedness (n): The state or quality of being poor-spirited.
- His poor-spiritedness was evident in his unwillingness to take any risk.
Synonyms
- Cowardly: lacking courage.
- Timorous: showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence.
- Faint-hearted: lacking conviction or courage; timid.
- Craven: contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.
Antonyms
- Courageous: not deterred by danger or pain; brave.
- Bold: showing a willingness to take risks; confident and courageous.
- Spirited: full of energy, enthusiasm, and determination.
Related Idioms
- To have no stomach for (something): to lack the courage or desire to face something difficult.
- He had no stomach for the fight, proving himself to be rather poor-spirited.
Adjective
-
lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful
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