Retiring vs Fainthearted - What's the difference?

retiring | fainthearted |

As adjectives the difference between retiring and fainthearted

is that retiring is shy, introverted, liking privacy while fainthearted is faint of heart; irresolute; fearful.

As a verb retiring

is .

As a noun retiring

is retirement.

retiring

English

Adjective

(head)

Shy, introverted, liking privacy.

I don't really know him well, since he's so shy and retiring .

About to retire.

Today is the party for our retiring co-workers.

Verb

(head)

Noun

(en noun)

retirement

* Francis Bacon

One day of those his retirings (SIC), giving out that he was sick, his father Antigonus came on the sudden to visit him, and met a fair dainty youth coming out of his chamber.

fainthearted

English

Adjective

(en adjective)

Faint of heart; irresolute; fearful.

* 1719: Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe [http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/ot2www-pubeng?specfile=/texts/english/modeng/publicsearch/modengpub.o2w&act=text&offset=193841263&textreg=2&query=+fainthearted&id=DefCru1]

Upon this, our guide, who, by the way, was but a fainthearted fellow, bid us keep in a ready posture, for he believed there were more wolves a-coming. We kept our arms ready, and our eyes about us...

* 1866: Louisa May Alcott, Behind a Mask: or, A Woman's Power [http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/ot2www-pubeng?specfile=/texts/english/modeng/publicsearch/modengpub.o2w&act=text&offset=59916136&textreg=1&query=+fainthearted&id=AlcBehi]

"Fainthearted knight! You should have stayed and covered my retreat. Hark! they are coming! Hide! Hide!" she panted, half in fear, half in merriment, as the gay pursuers rapidly drew nearer.

Synonyms

* afraid * cowardly * meek * timid

Antonyms

* brave * determined * steadfast * stouthearted