gutless

adjective

ˈgət-ləs How to pronounce gutless (audio)
Definition of gutlessnext
as in cowardly
having or showing a shameful lack of courage a gutless attack on a writer who is now deceased and unable to defend herself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gutless And all the while, our gutless politicians watch from the sidelines so as to not interfere and risk angering their party. — Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026 As a result, politicians have been too gutless to tax their biggest donors. — Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Jan. 2026 Trump and the gutless GOP Congress may be leading America into World War III. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2026 In a year of gutless moves by major media companies, this may be the most gutless. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gutless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gutless
  1. cowardly
  2. afraid
  3. spineless
  4. craven
  5. pusillanimous
  6. scared
  7. frightened
  8. yellow
Adjective
  • Nikki is critical of the latter, calling it selfish and cowardly.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Or maybe the problem is Cape Fear itself for being too cowardly to commit to the certainty that drove the previous versions of this story.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of cowardly
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said all three women knew Lux by name and appearance, and one reported more than 50 encounters that authorities said escalated over time, eventually leaving employees afraid to work around him.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • But defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and LBs coach Shaun Dion Hamilton aren’t afraid to play rookies.
    — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • And now the nation will probably never get back to normal because a spineless GOP can never admit that it’s been conned.
    — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 May 2026
  • Some of Thomas’s critique appeared to be aimed at weak-willed conservatives, including his fellow-Justices, for being, as Thomas perceives it, too spineless to stand up for the ideals enshrined in the Declaration.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Definition of spineless
Adjective
  • Not an inspiration for craven pundits and politicians to use players as divisive avatars.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • In 2024, The Onion purchased Infowars, the conspiracy website born of the craven lunatic/Sandy Hook shooting denier Alex Jones.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of craven
Adjective
  • Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country.
    — A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of pusillanimous
Adjective
  • Òdódó’s transformation from a naïve and scared young woman into a powerful and influential queen at the king’s court is both remarkable and realistic, and so is her complex relationship with her husband (and captor).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
  • Some nights, when he was stressed or scared, Jean would tell him stories.
    — Juliet Linderman, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of scared
Adjective
  • Witnesses are often too frightened of the cartels to testify in court.
    — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • When Odysseus’ men arrive at Circe’s home, hungry, asking to be fed, Circe seems frightened — understandably so.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • The threshold in such circumstances should be much higher, so the VAR only intervenes if the challenge merits a yellow or red card.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • With colors like lilac, pink, red, blue, yellow, and black, there is a Sproos for every personality and every space.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of yellow

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gut it out
gutless
gutlessness
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Cite this Entry

“Gutless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gutless. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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