cowardice

noun

cow·​ard·​ice ˈkau̇(-ə)r-dəs 

 dialectal  -(ˌ)dīs

: lack of courage or firmness of purpose

soldiers accused of cowardice

Synonyms

• fearfulness
• cowardliness
• pusillanimity
• spinelessness
• gutlessness

Examples of cowardice in a Sentence

the cowardice shown by political leaders who were willing to give the Nazis whatever they wanted

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a courageous act that requires vulnerability over cowardice. —Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025

My silence felt like cowardice, stemming from a fear of alienation, of feeling unsafe—exactly what the ADL, unironically, pledges to ameliorate in school settings. —Sahar Mustafah august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025

The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible. —Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 27 Aug. 2025

The sheer cruelty and cowardice, firing into a church full of children, is absolutely incomprehensible. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cowardise, from Anglo-French coardise, from cuard — see coward

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cowardice

noun

cow·​ard·​ice ˈkau̇(-ə)rd-əs 

: lack of courage to face danger : shameful fear