mindmap root((胆怯)) cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage: the ~ retreat of the army. pusillanimous suggests contemptible timidity or lack of courage: ~ politicians feared crossing him. cross gutless close to cowardly, is informal and considered by some to be not entirely polite: a ~ coward. craven suggests extreme faintheartedness and lack of resistance: secretly despised the ~ toadies around her. dastardly implies behavior that is both cowardly and despicably treacherous or outrageous: a ~ attack on unarmed civilians.