COWARD Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

coward 1 of 2

noun

ˈkau̇(-ə)rd

Definition of coward

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

coward

2 of 2

adjective

as in cowardly

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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

Noun

And, in a way, this coward is the only sane one. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026 At the time, they may have been called cowards, even though their decision requires a certain level of courage. — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 May 2026

Adjective

Whoomp, whoomp bumped the coward heart. — James Arthur, The New York Review of Books, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for coward

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coward

Noun

This measure is a craven, deceptive, regressive, and destructive push to gut local control and services, and hand power to a barely accountable central government in Tallahassee.

— Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
In 2024, The Onion purchased Infowars, the conspiracy website born of the craven lunatic/Sandy Hook shooting denier Alex Jones.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026

Definition of craven

Adjective

The trans actor Elliot Page plays Sinon, a poor boy from Ithaca who is brave enough to travel with Odysseus in place of the cowardly aristocrat Antinous, played by Robert Pattinson.

— Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Weiss, Maher says, told him her internal critics are too cowardly to say anything to her face.

— Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 23 July 2026

Definition of cowardly

Adjective

Trump’s revenge tour also took down five Indiana state senators who had voted against the midterm gerrymandering to which Florida’s gutless Republicans have agreed.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
Keane called out the Red Wings as gutless for waiting for a home game to exact revenge.

— Troy Renck, Denver Post, 28 May 2026

Definition of gutless

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

Definition of pusillanimous

Browse Nearby Words

cow

coward

cowardice

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Style

“Coward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coward. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of coward

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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