POLTROON Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

poltroon 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of poltroon

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

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poltroon

2 of 2

noun

päl-ˈtrün

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for poltroon

Adjective

To know that a torture as violent as rape is about to happen ‘upstairs’ and not do ANYTHING ABOUT IT, is sick, cowardly and cold.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
In the case stood the cowardly lion's costume from the original film The Wizard of Oz from 1938.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of cowardly

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

Opt for a dark wash without rips and frays to keep the look streamlined, but don't be afraid to play with proportions and have fun with patterns and texture.

— Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 13 Oct. 2026
Measure What Customers Do After The Test Pick five to eight people who already trust you and aren’t afraid to tell you the truth.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 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

While opponents treated Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham like punching bags, White hid behind spineless PR fluff instead of defending her stars.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Trump does not ask, but demands, and these spineless Republicans fall on their knees and yield to his wishes.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of spineless

Adjective

Discovering that your identity has been stolen can leave you feeling angry, frightened and unsure where to begin.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
In one video, a young orangutan can be seen crouching in the corner of a small, dark crate, its frightened eyes wide open.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of frightened

Adjective

In either case, the projector will rotate through the primary colors more rapidly, which helps minimize the likelihood of seeing rainbow artifacts (flashes of red, green, blue, and—in this case—yellow).

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026
The arrest tally reported Sunday approached the nearly 2,000 recorded nationwide during a single day of yellow vest protests in December 2018.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of yellow

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“Poltroon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltroon. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of poltroon

adjective

noun

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Synonyms of poltroon

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to poltroon

Rare and Amusing Insults, Volume 2

You Won't Believe These 10 Words Come...

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Cite this Entry

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fervid

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'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

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9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

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16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

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