poltroonery

noun

päl-ˈtrü-nə-rē How to pronounce poltroonery (audio)
Definition of poltroonerynext
as in fearfulness
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger decried the poltroonery of those politicians who caved into pressure from the special interests

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for poltroonery
  1. pusillanimity
  2. 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
  • Indeed, cowardice in this situation sends exactly the wrong message.
    — Ivan Oransky, STAT, 31 July 2026
  • From its beginnings as a form, the novel has dealt with love and hate, war and peace, courage and cowardice, boredom and catastrophe.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Definition of cowardice
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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Cite this Entry

“Poltroonery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltroonery. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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