as in fearfulness
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger
the cowardice shown by political leaders who were willing to give the Nazis whatever they wanted
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Recent Examples of cowardice
The movie became a victim of the studio’s cowardice and Peckinpah’s maverick instability, resulting in it being sliced and diced down to a 1973 theatrical version that couldn’t have made less sense.
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2024
Devereaux receives a hero’s welcome back home, but his irrational and violent behavior threatens his new livelihood, as does knowledge of his cowardice held by Captain Del Stewart (William Holden).
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2024
The evasion of the narrative of an anointing or a coronation is already central to the character of her campaign, lest the voter feel hostage to the indecision and cowardice of her party.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 23 July 2024
The last meter in the corridor of life – of a man, of a regime, of a nation – where truths previously kept at bay by hypocrisy, political necessity, dissimulation, cowardice come out.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cowardice 
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2024
Devereaux receives a hero’s welcome back home, but his irrational and violent behavior threatens his new livelihood, as does knowledge of his cowardice held by Captain Del Stewart (William Holden).
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2024
The evasion of the narrative of an anointing or a coronation is already central to the character of her campaign, lest the voter feel hostage to the indecision and cowardice of her party.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 23 July 2024
The last meter in the corridor of life – of a man, of a regime, of a nation – where truths previously kept at bay by hypocrisy, political necessity, dissimulation, cowardice come out.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cowardice
Thesaurus Entries Near cowardice
Cite this Entry
“Cowardice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowardice. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.
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