cowardly
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1cow·ard·ly
adverb \-lē\Definition of COWARDLY
: in a cowardly manner
First Known Use of COWARDLY
14th century
2cowardly
adjectiveDefinition of COWARDLY
: being, resembling, or befitting a coward <a cowardly retreat>
— cow·ard·li·ness noun
See Examples of COWARDLY
- He insisted on avoiding a cowardly retreat.
- She made a cowardly decision to go along with the group.
- a cowardly attack from behind
First Known Use of COWARDLY
1551
Related to COWARDLY
- Synonyms
- chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow
- Antonyms
- brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous
Synonym Discussion of COWARDLY
cowardly, pusillanimous, craven, dastardly mean having or showing a lack of courage. cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage <a cowardly failure to stand up for principle>. pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage <the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility>. craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance <secretly despised her own craven yes-men>. dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous <a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians>.
Learn More About COWARDLY
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: cowardness
Previous Word in the Dictionary: cowardice
All Words Near: cowardly
Previous Word in the Dictionary: cowardice
All Words Near: cowardly
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up cowardly? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
