gutless

adjective

gut·​less ˈgət-ləs 

1

: lacking courage : cowardly

2

: lacking significance or vitality

gutlessness noun

Synonyms of gutless

• cowardly
• afraid
• spineless
• craven
• pusillanimous
• scared
• frightened
• yellow
• unheroic
• dastardly
• careful
• timid

Examples of gutless in a Sentence

a gutless attack on a writer who is now deceased and unable to defend herself

Recent Examples on the Web

Forget about the networks, the streaming money is just going to continue to get bigger, especially at a time when there are almost as many pay channels as there are gutless members of Congress. — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Trump’s revenge tour also took down five Indiana state senators who had voted against the midterm gerrymandering to which Florida’s gutless Republicans have agreed. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026

Keane called out the Red Wings as gutless for waiting for a home game to exact revenge. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 28 May 2026

But this seems a lot more gutless than ruthless. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1