squeamish.

Easily made uneasy or repelled by blood, injury, unpleasant sensations, or certain morally troubling acts.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• squeamish about blood
• a squeamish reaction
• not for the squeamish

On the page

He was squeamish about needles rather than afraid of the doctor.

The volunteer grew squeamish at the prospect of cleaning the wound.

She was squeamish about deceiving the frightened patient, although she knew the lie might calm him.

Usage notes

Primary category: fear. Aversion and disgust are often primary, with fear of encountering them secondary. Not a synonym for cowardly. Gradable with more/most; no inflectional endings normally needed. Derived family (not additional inflections or records): squeamishness.