What does gutless mean?
Gutless is an adjective meaning cowardly or lacking courage, nerve, and moral resolve. It is used to characterize people as well as actions and conduct that appear timid, evasive, or unwilling to confront a difficult situation. In sports reporting, phrases such as "gutless display" and "gutless attack" are common criticisms of a team that appears to lack fighting spirit. The word often carries a stronger negative judgment than a neutral description of fearfulness: calling someone gutless suggests not merely that they are cautious, but that they fail to act when courage is expected. Gutless is used in both British and American English and is common in informal speech, commentary, and journalism. Its meaning is broader than simple physical fear and can imply moral weakness, lack of conviction, or perceived disloyalty. The related noun gutlessness names the quality, while the adverb form is gutlessly.
adjectiveLacking courage, resolve, or moral principle; cowardly.
- Lacking courage, resolve, or moral principle; cowardly.
"The team was criticized for its gutless display in the second half."
"Calling the criticism gutless was an attempt to dismiss a fair complaint."
"Her gutless refusal to confront the problem frustrated everyone on the team."
Gutless turns a word for bravery into its exact opposite: where guts mean nerve, gutless means no nerve at all.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gutless come from?
Gutless is an English compound formed from gut and the suffix -less. In the expression "guts," the word gut carries the figurative sense of courage or nerve; -less then means "without," producing an adjective for someone who lacks that quality. The gut element also has an anatomical meaning, but the conventional sense of gutless is figurative and focuses on cowardice or moral weakness.
Related word forms
How gutless is actually used
Usually informal to mildly derogatory, and commonly used for people, actions, conduct, or performances. It is especially common in criticism of someone perceived as timid, evasive, or unwilling to take a stand.
Easily confused with gutless
Gutless means cowardly or lacking courage, whereas gustless means without a breeze or, in food and drink descriptions, lacking a strong flavor or aroma.