faint-heartedness

IPA/fˈeɪnthˈɑːtɪdnəs/
IPA/fˈeɪnthˈɑːɹɾᵻdnəs/

faint-heartedness — noun

1. a lack of courage or firm resolve when action is needed

1.nounC2
Definition

a lack of courage or firm resolve when action is needed

Example

Lucia's faint-heartedness showed when the boat started rocking in the storm.

show faint-heartedness under sudden danger

Trang admitted faint-heartedness when the class had to climb the tower.

pattern: admit faint-heartedness after avoiding action

Common collocations
  • show faint-heartedness
  • faint-heartedness in a crisis
  • accuse someone of faint-heartedness
  • moment of faint-heartedness
Synonyms
  • cowardice

    stronger and more openly condemning

  • timidity

    often stresses a quiet, shy lack of boldness

  • hesitation

    weaker and often caused by uncertainty rather than fear

Antonyms
  • courage

    the ability to face danger or difficulty bravely

  • resolve

    firm determination to keep going

Grammar Patterns

show faint-heartedness

accuse someone of faint-heartedness

faint-heartedness in the face of danger

Usage Note

Often used in formal or critical writing when someone loses courage at the moment they should act. It sounds more judgmental than simply saying a person felt nervous or uncertain.

Common Mistakes

Her faint-heartedness before the maths quiz was obvious.
Her nervousness before the maths quiz was obvious.
faint-heartedness usually suggests a failure of courage when action is required, not ordinary short-term worry.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Faint-heartedness is a formal word for losing courage when a difficult action is in front of you. Cowardice is stronger and usually sounds like moral blame, as if the person failed a clear test of bravery. Timidity often describes a more general shy or quiet unwillingness to act boldly, not just one tense moment. Hesitation is weaker and can come from careful thinking rather than fear. If a firefighter backs away from smoke because of fear, faint-heartedness fits; if a student pauses to check the instructions again, hesitation is better. When the criticism is harsh and moral, cowardice is the sharper choice.

cowardice ↗timidity ↗hesitation ↗

Etymology

English

Formed in English from the adjective faint-hearted plus the noun suffix -ness. The image is figurative rather than physical: it describes a person whose courage seems to fail at an important moment.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined above