coward 1 of 2

as in craven
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger the soldiers who ran as soon as the first shots were fired were branded as cowards

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

coward

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of coward
Adjective
So this coward had to fire from outside of the church, through the church windows and into the church. Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025 According to Boxing called Davis a coward for his decision. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 But Democrats look like cowards for fleeing the state. Nicole Russell, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025 Today’s Republican Party is a bunch of weak, spineless cowards who cower in obedient terror at Trump’s feet. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for coward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coward
Noun
  • Obi-Wan, the craven victor, revealing his true self.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Missourians have the opportunity to put this craven power grab up for a vote.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Shmi, who died for nothing, the cowardly Jedi refusing to free her, refusing to interfere.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
  • My cowardly stread ended today, however.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • During a pretty boring game that ended in a 105-95 Knicks win, Eagle and his analyst, Stan Van Gundy, made some chicken salad.
    Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Adding parsnips and turnips to the recipe gives the dish a subtle earthy flavor that perfectly complements the savory chicken.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In a year of gutless moves by major media companies, this may be the most gutless.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Listen, by doing it this way, with a press release instead of a press conference, Rose looks both gutless and gutty at the same time.
    Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country.
    A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Coward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coward. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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