English Meaning & Definitions
Lack of bravery; excessive fear that prevents one from facing danger, difficulty, or pain.
- “His refusal to stand up for his beliefs was seen by many as an act of cowardice.”
- “She overcame her cowardice and finally confronted the bully who had been tormenting her.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “cowardice”.
Derived from the Old French 'couardise', based on 'couard' (coward), which comes from the Old French 'coue' (tail), from Latin 'cauda'. The imagery suggests an animal, specifically a hare, tucking its tail between its legs when frightened.
Think of a 'cow' that is 'dicey' (risky) to approach because it is too scared to stand its ground.
Frequently Asked Questions About “cowardice”
1. What is the meaning of “cowardice” in English?
In English, cowardice (noun) is defined as: “Lack of bravery; excessive fear that prevents one from facing danger, difficulty, or pain.”.
2. How do you use “cowardice” in a sentence?
“His refusal to stand up for his beliefs was seen by many as an act of cowardice.”
3. What are English synonyms of “cowardice”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “cowardice”?
Derived from the Old French 'couardise', based on 'couard' (coward), which comes from the Old French 'coue' (tail), from Latin 'cauda'. The imagery suggests an animal, specifically a hare, tucking its tail between its legs when frightened.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.