cowardliness

noun

Definition of cowardlinessnext
as in cowardice
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger the soldier was court-martialed for cowardliness under fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowardliness
  1. cowardice
  2. pusillanimity
Noun
  • From its beginnings as a form, the novel has dealt with love and hate, war and peace, courage and cowardice, boredom and catastrophe.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
  • Pitaro has shown a consistent pattern of cowardice since assuming the chairman role in 2018.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of 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
  • Even the turbulent Vietnam era didn’t inspire such pusillanimity.
    — Matthew Hennessey, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2022
Definition of pusillanimity
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.

Browse Nearby Words

cowardice
cowardliness
cowardly
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Cite this Entry

“Cowardliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowardliness. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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