as in afraid
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
a cowardly bully who picks on the weak and defenseless vile charges that were made in a cowardly, unsigned letter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cravenly
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cowardly
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
My senators are too cowardly to talk to me.
—
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2026
State athletic director Boo Corrigan, a cowardly touch.
—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cowardly
Adjective
Your writing is disgusting and your lack of confronting this team front office head on is an enormous act of cowardly proportions.
—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
My senators are too cowardly to talk to me.
—
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adverb
Zendaya and Pattinson’s performances aren’t cowardly like the film that houses them, but the pleasure of their capable performances sadly fizzles because there is no emotional center to the narrative.
—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2026
State athletic director Boo Corrigan, a cowardly touch.
—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cowardly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowardly
Adjective
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That's the part so many seem afraid to say out loud.
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The people who worked for cooperatives were particularly afraid.
Adverb
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Maybe the only thing scarier than the opening scene of The Happening is Mark Wahlberg attempting to earnestly and fearfully talk to a plant.
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Videos on social media showed militant convoys in trucks and motorcycles moving through the town's deserted streets, while residents looked on fearfully.
Adjective
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This origin tale of Don Diego Vega, and his masked adventurer/avenger alter ego Zorro, righting wrongs against craven evildoers in early-day California, was adapted into a silent movie hit in 1920.
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It’s populated by craven, cowardly traitors.
Adverb
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The other photo shows two of the cubs huddled in a corner of a habitat, with one eyeing the camera timidly.
Adjective
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Humans are scared of him, so Nero becomes Rocco’s favorite thief.
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People are very scared of being human.
Adjective
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Some of Thomas’s critique appeared to be aimed at weak-willed conservatives, including his fellow-Justices, for being, as Thomas perceives it, too spineless to stand up for the ideals enshrined in the Declaration.
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Republicans in Congress have become spineless sycophants to a president who only sees the beauty of this country in dollar signs.
Adjective
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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.
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Keane called out the Red Wings as gutless for waiting for a home game to exact revenge.
Adjective
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Rodríguez acknowledged that many remain too frightened to return home even after inspections declared some buildings safe.
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Some days are spent inside an Ebola Treatment Unit caring for patients who are frightened, isolated, and desperately ill.
Cite this Entry
“Cowardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowardly. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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