poltroonery

9.9

A complete lack of courage that makes someone act shamefully

noun
/pɒlˈtruːnəri/

Archaic

: cobardía

The soldier's poltroonery during battle was evident when he fled instead of fighting.

Examples

Many viewed her refusal to speak out against injustice as poltroonery in the face of danger.
His decision to run away showed a level of poltroonery that shocked his friends.
Will not be many people consider for poltroonery?

The Defender (2004)

Synonyms

cowardice

vspoltroonery

46 5.5

Lack of courage to face danger or difficulty

is an extreme, abject lack of courage rather than ordinary fear

pusillanimity

vspoltroonery

Offensive

1 9.9

Being too afraid to do what is needed

is a more abject lack of courage emphasizing utter weakness

cowardliness

vspoltroonery

1 6.6

Lack of courage when facing danger or difficulty

is more contemptible and total lack of courage than mere timidity

cravenness

vspoltroonery

Formal

9.9

A shameful fear that makes a person avoid danger and refuse to stand up for others

is an absolute, abject lack of courage rather than mere meanness

dastardliness

vspoltroonery

Archaic

9.9

Being very cowardly in a shameful way

is a total, abject lack of courage rather than merely despicable fear

pusillanimousness

vspoltroonery

Formal

9.9

A lack of courage that makes a person afraid to act

is stronger, meaning total, contemptible absence of courage

Antonyms

courage

∞ 1.4

Doing something even if you feel afraid or are in danger

bravery

104 2.3

A person's willingness to face danger or pain without fear

fearlessness

8 4.1

Not being afraid in danger or trouble

How Cowardly

poltroonery

Archaic

9.9

cowardice

46 5.5

timidity

7 5.8

Surface Forms

poltroonery singular

poltrooneries plural

Morphology

poltroonery = poltroon (transparent) = poltroon + ery

Formed from 'poltroon' + '-ery' to denote the state or quality of being a poltroon; meaning follows standard English noun-formation.

Etymology

Poltroonery comes from poltroon, a word for a 'coward', which comes from the Italian poltrone meaning 'couch' or 'lazy person'. A helpful image is someone hiding on a couch instead of standing to fight, so poltroonery means extreme cowardice or a complete lack of courage.