as in afraid
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
the pacifist was mistakenly accused of being a lily-livered coward
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Recent Examples of lily-livered
Contrary to the nationalist account, resistance has not generally been the result of America’s leaders being weak-kneed and lily-livered.
—
Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2017
Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lily-livered
Adjective
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Make sure to water regularly, especially in warmer months, and don’t be afraid to switch out plants seasonally to keep your containers fresh.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Don’t be afraid to give your rooms multiple purposes Take advantage of the various nooks and crannies in your home.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Aug. 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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There was nothing like Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem with her face melting off, or Jesus appearing in South Park as part of Paramount's cowardly settlement of a ridiculous lawsuit filed by Trump.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Like other liberal historians, I’m outraged by Trump’s cowardly attacks on our guild.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
Twin Cities,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott is under severe pressure from President Donald Trump to restart one of the most craven and self-destructive practices of American politics in the 21st century: predatory gerrymandering.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
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Unlike the Founders who risked their lives, this bunch, with precious few exceptions, is too craven to risk even their jobs.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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Investigators believe other potential victims may be too frightened to report similar attacks.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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School staff gathered the students in the cafeteria during the lockdown and tried to keep the frightened kids calm, said a school employee who refused to give an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter their name.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Rather than feigned civility or spineless compromise, a strong response to this prompt will show that a student has integrity and conviction, but is willing to grow and interrogate their ideas through engagement with others.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
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Today’s Republican Party is a bunch of weak, spineless cowards who cower in obedient terror at Trump’s feet.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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The guys in there aren’t scared of these challenges.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Aug. 2025
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Things were changing, and people—some people at least—were scared.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Listen, by doing it this way, with a press release instead of a press conference, Rose looks both gutless and gutty at the same time.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Lily-livered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lily-livered. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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