as in cowardly
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
a gutless attack on a writer who is now deceased and unable to defend herself
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gutless
Two baseballs flew down toward the San Diego Padres’ Jurickson Profar from the left-field corner stands, the gutless moves of two cowards.
—
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024
And the really jaw-dropping part of AMLO’s gutless abdication?
—Tim Padgett, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2024
The Defendant’s gutless decisions deprived the family of a proper burial.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024
Of course, the real blame for all this goes to the gutless lickspittles in the U.S. Senate, who, in an impeachment proceeding just weeks after the insurrection, could have restored the nation’s dignity and voted to bar Trump from ever running again.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for gutless
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024
And the really jaw-dropping part of AMLO’s gutless abdication?
—Tim Padgett, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2024
The Defendant’s gutless decisions deprived the family of a proper burial.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024
Of course, the real blame for all this goes to the gutless lickspittles in the U.S. Senate, who, in an impeachment proceeding just weeks after the insurrection, could have restored the nation’s dignity and voted to bar Trump from ever running again.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for gutless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gutless
Adjective
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Shmi, who died for nothing, the cowardly Jedi refusing to free her, refusing to interfere.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
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My cowardly stread ended today, however.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The opposition ranged from clinical and code-based to angry and afraid.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Jan. 2026
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From animal prints to floral patterns and everything in between, don’t be afraid to let loose and have fun with patterns in your space.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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My candidacy is a symbol of the end of the weak-kneed, feckless Republican leadership of Mitch McConnell, and the spineless swamp jellyfish that are in the United States Senate representing the Republicans.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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Because Republicans in Congress are spineless.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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So does the craven poor judgment required by any public officials who hire him.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Dec. 2025
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Unlike their cynical and craven counterparts in Texas, a majority of Indiana Republican state senators understood that short-term electoral gains weren’t worth sacrificing their principles.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
16 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The birds were scared away by a resident’s dog.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
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As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Nearly a week later, Scott and Kodi Allred, a couple traveling to visit their son at the University of Northern Colorado, saw the frightened black dachshund darting along the same stretch of road near Elk Mountain.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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Sometimes, a frightened reaction is inexplicable.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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On the other side of the yellow line, Hamas is digging in, too — regrouping after the war and consolidating control of its part of Gaza.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
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Oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light (the most familiar color of the aurora) or a red light; nitrogen generally gives off a blue light.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gutless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gutless. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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