noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
boneless; without bones
Describes food, especially fish or meat fillets, that have had the bones removed.
このスーパーでは骨なしの魚が買える。
You can buy boneless fish at this supermarket.
骨なしチキンは子どもに人気だ。
Boneless chicken is popular with children.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
spineless; lacking backbone; weak-principled
Figurative use for a person who lacks moral conviction or firmness; similar to English 'spineless' or 'gutless'.
彼は骨なしで、すぐに意見を変える。
He is spineless and changes his opinion right away.
そんな骨なしの態度ではリーダーは務まらない。
With such a weak-principled attitude, you can't be a leader.
骨抜き also means 'boneless' but often implies bones have been deliberately removed, and figuratively it means 'emasculated' or 'watered down' (e.g., a bill), whereas 骨なし focuses on the lack of backbone in a person.
Compound of 骨 (bone) + なし (without). The figurative sense is a straightforward metaphor for lacking moral backbone.