gutlessness

noun

as in cowardice
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger the unconscionable gutlessness shown by the school board when extremists called for banning certain literary classics from the library

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gutlessness
  1. cowardice
  2. pusillanimity
  3. cowardliness
  4. spinelessness
Noun
  • Recently, the most exciting thing about Sheeran seemed to be his cowardice.
    — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Freedom has spent weeks exposing the WNBA’s cowardice on transgender eligibility, demanding the league protect biological women from male competition.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of cowardice
Noun
  • If such pusillanimity continues, Democrats risk losing their party to a band of true believers no less destructive than the furthest extremes of the MAGA movement.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of pusillanimity
Noun
  • Some of these institutions appeared to pay a price for their cowardliness.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of cowardliness
Noun
  • Some protesters are there to boo and shame Benitez for her spinelessness.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Definition of spinelessness
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

gutless
gutlessness
guts
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Cite this Entry

“Gutlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gutlessness. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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