MEANING
Lacking the confidence or courage needed to face a demanding or risky situation.
Use it for
reluctance before a challenge; warning about difficultyDescribe faltering resolve without assuming deliberate betrayal.
Words that belong together
- not for the fainthearted
- a fainthearted response
- become fainthearted
On the page
Winter climbing is not for the fainthearted.
She called the proposal fainthearted because it avoided every difficult decision.
He grew fainthearted when he saw how far the rescue boat had to travel.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- fainthearted
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Usage notes
Primary category: fear. Often used in not for the fainthearted; usually less condemnatory than cowardly. Also spelled faint-hearted. Gradable with more/most; no inflectional endings normally needed. Derived family (not additional inflections or records): faintheartedness.
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