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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cowardice
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
The variety of wounds, which were mainly found in the skull, pelvis and torso, and made by weapons including spears, daggers, swords and iron bolts, suggests they were sustained during battle rather than the result of execution – the punishment for military cowardice, the museum said.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cowardice
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
The variety of wounds, which were mainly found in the skull, pelvis and torso, and made by weapons including spears, daggers, swords and iron bolts, suggests they were sustained during battle rather than the result of execution – the punishment for military cowardice, the museum said.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cowardice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowardice
pusillanimity
Noun
-
Reid’s statement was striking for its sheer pusillanimity.—
Adam S. Posen,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Dec. 2015
-
What a profile in pusillanimity.—
The Editorial Board,
WSJ,
23 May 2022
Cite this Entry
“Cowardice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowardice. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share