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
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
In Bondi Beach, an act of courage exposes cowardice, The Washington Post’s editorial board writes.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
Furthermore, his cowardice in the face of Israel’s genocide in Gaza is utterly unacceptable.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Dec. 2025
His new visions are shattered by an explosion of light and color as, beneath his fist, the green light blazes, the kyber crystal of the Jedi screaming in corruption and cowardice, in fear and loathing—the lies of the Jedi revealed at last.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cowardice
Anabel Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
In Bondi Beach, an act of courage exposes cowardice, The Washington Post’s editorial board writes.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
Furthermore, his cowardice in the face of Israel’s genocide in Gaza is utterly unacceptable.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Dec. 2025
His new visions are shattered by an explosion of light and color as, beneath his fist, the green light blazes, the kyber crystal of the Jedi screaming in corruption and cowardice, in fear and loathing—the lies of the Jedi revealed at last.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
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 1 Feb. 2026.
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