coward 1 of 2

Definition of cowardnext
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
Noun
These are American cowards that are rooting against our Country. Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 13 May 2026 And Trump calls ’em almost like cowards. Chris Willman, Variety, 12 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
  • 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
  • Obi-Wan, the craven victor, revealing his true self.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But even the most perfect Constitution can be undone by the wicked with the help of the bought, the stupid, and the cowardly.
    Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
  • Lindsey Graham is a career, corrupt, cowardly politician.
    Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • There’s no need to rev up the oven for a quick weeknight meal; this air fryer can cook chicken, fish, meat, and more with the push of a button.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
  • With a sofrito as its backbone, sancocho is rumored to have medicinal powers to cure hangovers and is filled to the tip top with beef, chicken, pork, corn, green plantains, yuca, auyama and yautia.
    Andre James, Charlotte Observer, 22 June 2026
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
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 1 Jul. 2026.

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