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
However, accusing the United Kingdom of cowardice is a bridge too far.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 31 Jan. 2026
In other words, the age-old trance of acceptance has broken, and there are suddenly too many entrepreneurs capturing disaffected audiences by accusing legacy institutions of corruption and cowardice.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
How much cowardice must persist?
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Every raid, every delay, every act of political cowardice weakens our health care system and costs all of us more.
—Anabel Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cowardice
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 31 Jan. 2026
In other words, the age-old trance of acceptance has broken, and there are suddenly too many entrepreneurs capturing disaffected audiences by accusing legacy institutions of corruption and cowardice.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
How much cowardice must persist?
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Every raid, every delay, every act of political cowardice weakens our health care system and costs all of us more.
—Anabel Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cowardice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowardice
Noun
-
Given the President’s long-standing support for corporate tax cuts and deregulation of industry, this pusillanimity is perhaps not so surprising.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Our logrolling, our stumps and their politics, our fisheries, our Negroes and Indians, our boasts and our repudiations, the wrath of rogues and the pusillanimity of honest men, the northern trade, the southern planting, the western clearing, Oregon, and Texas, are yet unsung.—
Mark Edmundson,
Harper’s Magazine ,
12 Dec. 2022
Noun
-
Some protesters are there to boo and shame Benitez for her spinelessness.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cowardice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowardice. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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