What does "pusillanimity" mean?
The quality or state of being pusillanimous; the vice of being timid and cowardly, and thus not living up to one's full potential; pusillanimousness.
Pusillanimity
/pjuːsɪləˈnɪmɪti/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The quality or state of being pusillanimous; the vice of being timid and cowardly, and thus not living up to one's full potential; pusillanimousness.
- Grammar: pusillanimity is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: baseness, cowardice, cowardliness, diffidence.
- Useful contrasts: boldness, bravery, courage.
- Usage evidence: The idea of his concealment, not only agrees very ill with his reputed divinity, but associates with it something of pusillanimity.
How to use "pusillanimity"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pusillanimity" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pusillanimity" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pusillanimity" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pusillanimity" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pusillanimity" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "baseness" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The quality or state of being pusillanimous; the vice of being timid and cowardly, and thus not living up to one's full potential; pusillanimousness. countable, uncountable
"The ſecond property of your excellent ſherris, is the vvarming of the blood, vvhich before (cold & ſetled) left the lyuer vvhite & pale, vvhich is the badge of puſilanimitie and covvardize: but the ſherris vvarmes it, and makes it courſe from the invvards to the partes extreames, […]"
- 2 contemptible fearfulness wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The idea of his concealment, not only agrees very ill with his reputed divinity, but associates with it something of pusillanimity."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pusillanimity"?
Common synonyms include: baseness, cowardice, cowardliness, diffidence, ethical timidity, faintheartedness.
How do you use "pusillanimity" in a sentence?
The idea of his concealment, not only agrees very ill with his reputed divinity, but associates with it something of pusillanimity.
How do you pronounce "pusillanimity"?
Pronounced /pjuːsɪləˈnɪmɪti/.
Etymology
From pusillanim(ous) + -ity, from Middle French pusillanimité, from the ecclesiastical Latin pusillanimis, from pusillus (puny) + animus (spirit) + -ous. A translation of the Greek ὀλιγόψυχος (oligópsukhos, “faint-hearted”).