cravenness
Lack of courage
Cravenness is contemptible cowardice—not merely fear, but a shameful lack of courage that invites scorn.
The word carries moral judgment that simple cowardice doesn't: His cravenness in refusing to speak up disgusted everyone.
Where a coward might earn pity, someone displaying cravenness earns contempt.
Lack of courage
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- poltrooneryContemptible lack of bravery
- gutlessnessLack of bravery
- yellow-belliedEasily frightened, timid
chickenhearted · fainthearted · dastardly · recreant · white-livered · unheroic · cringing · skulking
Chronic state of dread
- timorousnessHabitual fearfulness or shyness
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
- sheepishnessTimid embarrassment after wrongdoing
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
faintheartedness · nervousness · hesitancy · trepidation · apprehensiveness · skittishness · mousy · bashfulness
Complete yielding to demands
- yieldingBending under pressure
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- subservienceExcessive willingness to obey
servility · obsequiousness · groveling · bootlicking · kowtowing · sycophancy · fawning · prostration
Lack of strength
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
- impotenceLack of strength or power
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- ineffectualityInability to produce results
enervation · frailty · debility · incapacity · infirmity · wimpiness · unmanliness · softness
spinelessness
Lack of courage
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- poltrooneryContemptible lack of bravery
- gutlessnessLack of bravery
yellow-bellied · chickenhearted · fainthearted · dastardly · recreant · white-livered · unheroic · cringing · skulking · sneaking
fearfulness
Chronic state of dread
- timorousnessHabitual fearfulness or shyness
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
- sheepishnessTimid embarrassment after wrongdoing
meekness · faintheartedness · nervousness · hesitancy · trepidation · apprehensiveness · skittishness · mousy · bashfulness · reticence
capitulation
Complete yielding to demands
- yieldingBending under pressure
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
subservience · servility · obsequiousness · groveling · bootlicking · kowtowing · sycophancy · fawning · prostration · docility
feebleness
Lack of strength
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
- impotenceLack of strength or power
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
ineffectuality · enervation · frailty · debility · incapacity · infirmity · wimpiness · unmanliness · softness · vulnerability
- timiditybashfulness, shyness, timidness, timorousness, meekness