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poltroon 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of poltroonnext
as in cowardly
having or showing a shameful lack of courage a military commander who was so poltroon that he surrendered without having fired so much as a single shot

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

poltroon

2 of 2

noun

päl-ˈtrün How to pronounce poltroon (audio)
as in coward
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger those poltroons in the state legislature who have caved in to bigotry on this important issue of basic civil rights

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for poltroon
  1. cowardly
  2. coward
  3. pusillanimous
  4. afraid
  5. craven
  6. spineless
  7. frightened
  8. yellow
Adjective
  • The cowardly, devious Turgeniev has assimilated to the comforts of the West —that alone is enough for Fyodor to detest him.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • What’s left is a vaguely political YouTube series afraid of its own tail, incapable of being actually relatable and too cowardly to own the batshit truths of these people’s lives.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of cowardly
Noun
  • But Coyote has hitched his hopes for the mammoth case upon a man who could only be called a coward.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The pundits feasted on her neutrality, most venomously Megyn Kelly, who called her a coward.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of coward
Adjective
  • Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • 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
Definition of pusillanimous
Adjective
  • David, not unlike Jerry, was afraid of falling and white-knuckled his way through.
    — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Since the incident nearly a year ago, the victim has been afraid to go outside, according to Clifton.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • Did my eyes widen, revealing a craven journalist ready to pounce on an exclusive?
    — Jason Sheeler, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026
  • She was especially hurt that some of the people who criticized Cox most harshly, dismissing him as craven and disingenuous, were those who had the closest relationships with him.
    — McKay Coppins, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of craven
Adjective
  • And now the nation will probably never get back to normal because a spineless GOP can never admit that it’s been conned.
    — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 May 2026
  • Some of Thomas’s critique appeared to be aimed at weak-willed conservatives, including his fellow-Justices, for being, as Thomas perceives it, too spineless to stand up for the ideals enshrined in the Declaration.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Definition of spineless
Adjective
  • Michael was still frightened and disoriented by what had taken place over spring break.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Roosevelt offered frightened and dispirited Americans a vision of a secure future.
    — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • While gold is off its record highs from early this year, its price of around $4,400 per ounce is still well elevated versus history, with Goldman Sachs forecasting the yellow metal to reach $4,900 by year-end on the back of central bank buying.
    — Joanna Ossinger, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • This pass map shows the dangerous positions Rashford has put Shaw into with the ball (yellow arrows) — three are in the box and two are on the edge of it.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of yellow
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.

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poltergeists
poltroon
poltroonery
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Cite this Entry

“Poltroon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltroon. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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