lily-livered

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He won't be so hobbled by his lily-livered inability to give a direct order next time, because, frankly, he won't have to.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2022

After all, Arsenal’s last away game was that wretched, lily-livered, tactically incompetent 4-0 defeat at Anfield.

From The Guardian • Sep. 17, 2017

The Elizabethans referred to their monarch not as the head of state but as its liver, and woe to any people saddled with a lily-livered leader, whose bloodless cowardice would surely prove their undoing.

From New York Times • Jun. 12, 2017

Naturally, Joseph Fuqua’s amusingly lily-livered marshal is of no help in the impending showdown between Valance and Foster.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2016

“The fire-eater's in love with Resa, I said, he’d devour her with his eyes if he could, but the others wouldn't believe me. All the same—to think of a lily-livered coward like you venturing here!”

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke