weak-kneed

adjective
UK: /ˌwiːkˈniːd/
US: /ˌwiːkˈniːd/

  1. Lacking courage; easily frightened or likely to give in.

    1. He was too weak-kneed to stand up to the bully.
    2. The government's weak-kneed response to the crisis disappointed many citizens who hoped for stronger leadership.

  2. Lacking strength of character; spineless.

    1. Don't be so weak-kneed, stand up for yourself!
    2. The manager's weak-kneed approach to discipline resulted in a chaotic and unproductive workplace.

Synonyms

cowardly timid spineless feeble weak pusillanimous

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "weak-kneed" in English means: Lacking courage; easily frightened or likely to give in., Lacking strength of character; spineless..

The phonetic transcription of "weak-kneed" is /ˌwiːkˈniːd/ in British English and /ˌwiːkˈniːd/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "weak-kneed": cowardly, timid, spineless, feeble, weak, pusillanimous.

Example usage of "weak-kneed": "He was too weak-kneed to stand up to the bully.". More examples on the page.