as in fearfulness
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger
the cowardice shown by political leaders who were willing to give the Nazis whatever they wanted
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Recent Examples of cowardice
Better to walk away than be a party to this display of cowardice.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 2 July 2025
This is the consequence of cowardice — political, moral and economic.
—Michael B Smith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025
Khamenei’s stance is at once recalcitrant and cautious to the point of cowardice.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 22 June 2025
The oldest vice, which is the root of so many others, is the cowardice involved in lying to ourselves, refusing to face difficult truths—and pressuring others to play along.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cowardice
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 2 July 2025
This is the consequence of cowardice — political, moral and economic.
—Michael B Smith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025
Khamenei’s stance is at once recalcitrant and cautious to the point of cowardice.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 22 June 2025
The oldest vice, which is the root of so many others, is the cowardice involved in lying to ourselves, refusing to face difficult truths—and pressuring others to play along.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cowardice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowardice
pusillanimity
Noun
-
Reid’s statement was striking for its sheer pusillanimity.—
Adam S. Posen,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Dec. 2015
-
What a profile in pusillanimity.—
The Editorial Board,
WSJ,
23 May 2022
Cite this Entry
“Cowardice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowardice. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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