gut·less

(gŭt′lĭs)

adj. Slang

1. Lacking courage or drive.

2. Lacking substance; weak or insignificant.

gut′less·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

gutlessness - the trait of lacking courage and determination; fearful of loss or injury

fearfulness - the trait of being afraid

gutsiness, pluck, pluckiness - the trait of showing courage and determination in spite of possible loss or injury

gutlessness

noun

Slang. Ignoble lack of courage:

chickenheartedness, cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faint-heartedness, funk, pusillanimity, unmanliness.

Slang: yellowness, yellow streak.

Translations

vigliaccheria

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

McIntyre defended his players against accusations of gutlessness after last week's meek loss at St Johnstone and they went some way to proving him right by dragging themselves back in front through Ethan Robson.

Dee stare into abyss after Turnbull's last-gasp strike; motherwell 4 Turnbull (12, 90+5), Scott (24), Ariyibi (50) dundee 3 Woods (11 pen), Robson (22), Ralph (52)

However, that is exactly what his victims are, and he, on the other hand, has already become a symbol of gutlessness, idiocy, and villainy.

While The Dust Is Settling In New Zealand

In a sign of what is to come, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon this week accused Labour of "feebleness", adding that "any gutlessness in response to Russian aggression would certainly be welcome in Moscow".

How the Tories will try to target Corbyn in the election campaign; Political Editor David WILLIAMSON looks at six ways Jeremy Corbyn's foes will attempt to present him as a threat to Britain's economy and security in the run-up to the General Election

His demeanour as a knight of the realm degrades a system that already looks very tired; due in part to the gutlessness of the Honours Forfeiture Committee.

Honour Phil - but take away Ingham's title

It is a deafening judgment of his gutlessness. The avalanche has destroyed the veneer of contentment in what was initially established as an ideal, well-to-do family, out vacationing.

Avalanche crashes into family ideal: in Swedish film 'Force Majeure,' nature's disaster is just the beginning

In many cases, businesses themselves, through management prejudice or gutlessness, create a wholly unnecessary and offensive divide by telling gun-owning consumers their money is welcome but their freedom is not.

Giving gun owners the business

All of this nonsense that the Democratic National Committee affiliates are promoting is typical of the sheer gutlessness of that benighted party.

How to truly curb McCutcheon ruling

He hasn't made active decisions about what path he would like his relationships to take - rather he has just ended up where his gutlessness has taken him.

Sven's scored ...an own goal

The Benghazi affair has revealed gutlessness and ignorance.

LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG

Its action is emboldened by the weakness of its neighbours, the unhindered backing of its friends, and the gutlessness of its critics.

Opinion: Funding and Denouncing Israeli Occupation: Europes Odd Policy in Palestine - by Ramzy Baroud

There is no other way to explain the discrepancy between the gutsiness in Catalonia and the gutlessness in West Bromwich.

Abramovich has to play a smarter game of patience if Pep's the future

Fun that will also do 67mpg and even if the race to 60mph at 12.9 seconds is more a trot it comes without the clatter of hooves from an utterly sweet diesel engine, a 75bhp turbo unit which has none of the bottom end gutlessness that spoils so many small diesels.

Fiat 500 -showing a gift for style