spineless


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spine·less

 (spīn′lĭs)
adj.
1. Lacking courage or willpower.
2. Biology
a. Having no spines.
b. Lacking a spinal column; invertebrate.

spine′less·ly adv.
spine′less·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

spineless

(ˈspaɪnlɪs)
adj
1. (Zoology) lacking a backbone; invertebrate
2. (Botany) having no spiny processes: spineless stems.
3. lacking strength of character, resolution, or courage
ˈspinelessly adv
ˈspinelessness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

spine•less

(ˈspaɪn lɪs)

adj.
1. having no backbone.
2. having no spines or quills.
3. having a weak spine; limp.
4. without resolution or courage.
[1820–30]
spine′less•ly, adv.
spine′less•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.spineless - weak in willpower, courage or vitality
weak - wanting in physical strength; "a weak pillar"
2.spineless - lacking a backbone or spinal column; "worms are an example of invertebrate animals"
zoological science, zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals
3.spineless - lacking spiny processes; "spineless fins"
spinous, spiny - having spines; "the dorsal fin is spinous"
4.spineless - lacking thorns
unarmed - (used of plants or animals) lacking barbs or stings or thorns
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

spineless

adjective weak, soft, cowardly, ineffective, feeble, yellow (informal), inadequate, pathetic, submissive, squeamish, vacillating, boneless, gutless (informal), weak-willed, weak-kneed (informal), faint-hearted, irresolute, spiritless, chickenshit (U.S. slang), lily-livered, without a will of your own bureaucrats and spineless politicians
strong, brave, bold, courageous, gritty, strong-willed, ballsy (taboo slang)
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
ضَعيف الإرادَهلافقاري
bezobratlíbezpáteřní
holdningsløsvattet
hrygglauskjarklaus
bez chrbtice
omurgasızzayıf kişilikli

spineless

[ˈspaɪnlɪs] ADJ (fig) → débil
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

spineless

[ˈspaɪnləs] adj
(= weak) → faible
(lit) (= invertebrate) → invertébré(e)
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

spineless

adj
(Anat) → wirbellos; (fig) personohne Rückgrat; compromise, refusalfeige; don’t be so spinelessbeweisen Sie mal, dass Sie Rückgrat haben!
(Zool) → stachellos; (Bot) → dornenlos, stachellos
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

spineless

[ˈspaɪnlɪs] adj (fig) → smidollato/a; (animal) → invertebrato/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

spine

(spain) noun
1. the line of linked bones running down the back of humans and many animals; the backbone. She damaged her spine when she fell.
2. something like a backbone in shape or function. the spine of a book.
3. a thin, stiff, pointed part growing on an animal or a plant.
ˈspinal adjective
of or concerned with the backbone. a spinal injury.
ˈspineless adjective
1. of an animal, having no spine; invertebrate.
2. of a person, having a weak character; easily dominated.
ˈspiny adjective
full of, or covered with, spines. a spiny cactus.
spinal cord
a cord of nerve cells running up through the backbone.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
Jane Clayton was of sterner stuff than that which bends in spineless terror before danger.
Former all rounder Ian Botham said he felt depressed and embarrassed over England team's 'spineless' display in Australia.
Former Test all-rounder Ian Botham described England's performance as "spineless" and said: "I'm pretty depressed and embarrassed.
HELL'S Kitchen star Terry Miller was today branded a "spineless coward" by his wife for dumping her by phone.
From 1905 to 1916, Burbank's spineless cactus was the center of an agricultural bubble held aloft by the combined winds of genuine need, popular science, the eternal pursuit of quick profits, and, most of all, the extraordinary fame of Burbank himself.
Our line manager - let's call him Spineless Bob - asked my colleague to mark the work and send it to the examining board.
And turn our ire on the spineless cowards who make the rules that allow cheats like him a second chance.
has been spineless in the face of the lobbying power of private plane owners, many of whom are wealthy and influential.
I don't know what's more depressing, Saturday's mindless thugs or the spineless mugs supposed to be leading our city.
The visit will not have been in vain, if it succeeds in disabusing Ms Rice of the notion that the majority of the British people shared Tony Blair's spineless and unquestioning obedience to George Bush in his illegal war.
I HOPE Trevor Sergent was joking when he sent out that Press release accusing Podge and Rodge of being "gutless" and "spineless" after he was dropped from the show.
As it turns out, the spineless and the brave stand up to adversity the same way.