cowardice

[ kou-er-dis ]

noun

1. lack of courage to face danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.

   Synonyms: timidity, pusillanimity

   Antonyms: bravery

cowardice

/ ˈkaʊədɪs /

noun

1. lack of courage in facing danger, pain, or difficulty

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowardice¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English cowardise, from Old French co(u)ardise; equivalent to coward + -ice

Example Sentences

It is tragic that the Washington Post, which once employed Ben Bagdikian would stoop to showing cowardice in the face of this historic challenge.

From Salon

The way to get there, however, is not through transparently phony defenses of transparent cowardice.

From Salon

The free press, as evidenced by the rank cowardice on display at the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post, has lost the public trust.

From Slate

Donald Trump and his surrogates' and propagandists' racist, white supremacist, sexist, misogynistic and other vile attacks on Kamala Harris — and by implication her voters and other supporters — are not “dog whistles,” “coded,” racially “inflammatory,” “provocative,” “polarizing,” "extreme," or “controversial” as many in the white-dominated mainstream news media, in its collective moral cowardice and desperate attempts to normalize Trump and Trumpism have suggested.

From Salon

Others interpreted the decision rather differently: “This is cowardice, with democracy as its casualty,” former Post editor Marty Baron wrote on X.

From Slate