cowardice

noun

cow·​ard·​ice ˈkau̇(-ə)r-dəs 

 dialectal  -(ˌ)dīs

: lack of courage or firmness of purpose

soldiers accused of cowardice

Synonyms

• cowardliness
• cravenness
• dastardliness
• gutlessness
• poltroonery
• pusillanimity
• spinelessness

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

Her mother found her daughter’s cowardice in the face of strangers a secret disgrace, but Constance also had a father who was happy with her and with their time together, and that likely had been her salvation. —Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025

That political cowardice paved the road for something far more brutal. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025

There’s something undeniably cathartic about a figure as successful as Rogen, who co-created the series, speaking out about Hollywood’s creative cowardice. —Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 May 2025

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa characterized the flight of Afrikaners from his country as an act of cowardice. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 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