This is a list of fictional characters noted for a lack of bravery. Few of these characters suffer from actual cowardice, but all have an excessive amount of fear in most situations.

Many of these characters have done brave things, but only when they have felt themselves to be out of options. The defining nature of these characters is a lack of confidence, meaning that even once they have done brave things, they refuse to believe they could do it again.

Such characters are staples of many comedy situations. A popular cliche is for the character, having done something brave, to immediately panic or faint, as (s)he realises what might have happened.

Because their defining characteristic is a flaw (bordering on a vice), these characters might be considered anti-heroes. Often they are the sidekick to a braver character.

• Cowardly Lion, from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• Dave the Barbarian, from the animated series of the same name
• Chuckie Finster, from Rugrats and All Grown Up!
• Harry Paget Flashman, lead character in a series of novels by George MacDonald Fraser
• Xander Harris, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Jamie, from Megas XLR
• Penfold, from the animated series Dangermouse
• Piglet, from Winnie-the-Pooh
• Arnold Rimmer, from the comedy series Red Dwarf
• Rincewind, from the Discworld novels
• Sir Robin the Not-Quite-so-Brave-as-Sir-Lancelot, from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
• Scooby-Doo and Shaggy, Scooby-Doo cartoons
• Ron Stoppable , from the cartoon Kim Possible
• Villa, from Blake's 7
• Wade the Duck, from the cartoon Garfield and Friends
• Wobbler, from the Johnny Maxwell novels
• Luigi Mario, from the Super Mario Bros. series