chicken-heartedness
Lack of nerve
Chicken-heartedness is the quality of being timid or cowardly.
The chicken has long symbolized fearfulness in English, and this noun form captures that trait as an enduring characteristic rather than a momentary lapse: His chicken-heartedness kept him from speaking up when it mattered.
Gentle, unassertive disposition
- submissivenessDisposition to obey others
- docilityReadiness to submit
- passivityState of non-resistance
- complianceAdhering to requirements
pliability · yielding · deference · tameness · servility · acquiescence · tractability · spineless
Absence of bravery
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- spinelessnessLack of courage
- gutlessnessLack of bravery
- cravennessContemptible lack of bravery
poltroonery · dastardliness · unmanliness · craven · pusillanimous · spineless · gutless · yellow-bellied
Chronic state of dread
- timidityFearful lack of courage
- timorousnessHabitual fearfulness or shyness
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
nervousness · anxiety · dread · fright · alarm · panic · terror · jitters
Tendency toward social timidity
- bashfulnessTimid self-consciousness
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
- hesitancyUnwillingness to proceed
- reticenceHabitual verbal restraint
reserve · self-doubt · insecurity · self-consciousness · mousiness · introversion · withdrawal · shrinking
meekness
Gentle, unassertive disposition
- submissivenessDisposition to obey others
- docilityReadiness to submit
- passivityState of non-resistance
compliance · pliability · yielding · deference · tameness · servility · acquiescence · tractability · spineless · doormat
cowardice
Absence of bravery
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- spinelessnessLack of courage
- gutlessnessLack of bravery
cravenness · poltroonery · dastardliness · unmanliness · craven · pusillanimous · spineless · gutless · yellow-bellied · dastardly
fearfulness
Chronic state of dread
- timidityFearful lack of courage
- timorousnessHabitual fearfulness or shyness
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
apprehension · nervousness · anxiety · dread · fright · alarm · panic · terror · jitters · heebie-jeebies
shyness
Tendency toward social timidity
- bashfulnessTimid self-consciousness
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
- hesitancyUnwillingness to proceed
reticence · reserve · self-doubt · insecurity · self-consciousness · mousiness · introversion · withdrawal · shrinking · retiring
chicken-heartednessbravery
Boldness before danger
courage · fearlessness · valor · lion-heartedness · boldness
chicken-heartednessbackbone
Vertebral column, or courage
spine · steadfastness · grit · moral courage · resolve
chicken, chickens, heart, hearts, hearted, heartless, heartlessness, hearty, heartily