Definition of cowardice
: lack of courage or firmness of purpose
- soldiers accused of cowardice
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Examples of cowardice in a Sentence
the cowardice shown by political leaders who were willing to give the Nazis whatever they wanted
Recent Examples of cowardice from the Web
-
The idea that the cowardice of teachers, police officers and garden-variety white people is concealed behind urine-stained, low-thread-count sheets is the real problem.
-
Let it be thoroughly understood that our deceased brother did not embrace nonviolence out of fear or cowardice.
-
Commentators have dwelled on the traits of theatricality, brutality, solipsism, narcissism, cruelty, and cowardice these men seem to share.
-
Sometimes firing an assault rifle for the camera isn’t a mark of political courage but cowardice.
-
The idea was to condition out inadvertent cowardice.
-
One of the ghosts from his past turns out to be real — an eye-patched, trench-coated fellow soldier seeking revenge for Bastrop’s cowardice — and Bastrop must escape harm and then confront his own trauma and fraudulence.
-
There’s cowardice on one end and recklessness on one end.
-
What cowardice has caused you to retreat from the ragged heart of the desert?
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cowardice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of cowardice
Middle English cowardise, from Anglo-French coardise, from cuard — see coward
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 14th century
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearcowardice Synonyms
Synonyms
cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, gutlessness, spinelessness;
Antonyms
bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, guts, hardihood, heart, heroism, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valiance, valor, virtue;
Near Antonyms
audacity, boldness, brazenness;
backbone, fiber, fortitude, grit, gumption, mettle, pluck, spunk;
Related Words
diffidence, faintheartedness, fearfulness, timidity, timorousness;
COWARDICE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of cowardice for English Language Learners
-
: fear that makes you unable to do what is right or expected : lack of courage
COWARDICE Defined for Kids
Learn More about cowardice
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cowardice Spanish Central: Translation of cowardice Nglish: Translation of cowardice for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cowardice for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up cowardice? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
