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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as in cowardly
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of coward
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
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
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Missourians have the opportunity to put this craven power grab up for a vote.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In practice, despite his rhetoric, Israel’s longest serving prime minister’s security policy was widely seen as cautious and relatively restrained, even derided as cowardly by political rivals, who also mocked his inability to make decisive moves.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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Violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The company initiated the recall after genetic testing found a strain of listeria bacteria in prepared chicken fettuccine and meatball pasta products that matched a strain of bacteria that has been implicated in an ongoing listeria outbreak since August 2024.—
Amy McCarthy,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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Whisk together soup, cream cheese, sour cream, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl until smooth and well combined.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In a year of gutless moves by major media companies, this may be the most gutless.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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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
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Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Coward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coward. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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