COWARDLY Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'cowardly' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cowardly are craven , dastardly , and pusillanimous . While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage. // a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

Q: When would 'craven' be a good substitute for 'cowardly'?

The synonyms craven and cowardly are sometimes interchangeable, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance. // secretly despised her own craven yes-men

Q: When is it sensible to use 'dastardly' instead of 'cowardly'?

While in some cases nearly identical to cowardly , dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous. // a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

Q: When could 'pusillanimous' be used to replace 'cowardly'?

In some situations, the words pusillanimous and cowardly are roughly equivalent. However, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage. // the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

Q: How does the adjective 'cowardly' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cowardly are craven , dastardly , and pusillanimous . While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage. // a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

Q: When would 'craven' be a good substitute for 'cowardly'?

The synonyms craven and cowardly are sometimes interchangeable, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance. // secretly despised her own craven yes-men

Q: When is it sensible to use 'dastardly' instead of 'cowardly'?

While in some cases nearly identical to cowardly , dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous. // a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

Q: When could 'pusillanimous' be used to replace 'cowardly'?

In some situations, the words pusillanimous and cowardly are roughly equivalent. However, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage. // the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

cowardly 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of cowardly next

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

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cowardly

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adverb

as in cravenly

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How does the adjective cowardly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cowardly are craven, dastardly, and pusillanimous. While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.

a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

When would craven be a good substitute for cowardly?

The synonyms craven and cowardly are sometimes interchangeable, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.

secretly despised her own craven yes-men

When is it sensible to use dastardly instead of cowardly?

While in some cases nearly identical to cowardly, dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.

a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

When could pusillanimous be used to replace cowardly?

In some situations, the words pusillanimous and cowardly are roughly equivalent. However, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.

the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

How does the adjective cowardly differ from other similar words?

a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

When would craven be a good substitute for cowardly?

The synonyms craven and cowardly are sometimes interchangeable, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.

secretly despised her own craven yes-men

When is it sensible to use dastardly instead of cowardly?

While in some cases nearly identical to cowardly, dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.

a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

When could pusillanimous be used to replace cowardly?

In some situations, the words pusillanimous and cowardly are roughly equivalent. However, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.

the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

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 cowardly

Adjective

The mayor denounced the attack as a cowardly act of aggression against the city's Jewish community. —

ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026 On the flat arid plains below lives the farming community of the Bezaris, who are generally seen by the Hazerans as a group of privileged, cowardly usurers. —

Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026

Adverb

Rhode Island ice rink attack: 2 dead, 3 injured after shooting at youth hockey game Where was the mailman shooting in Georgia? 'A very cowardly move' Graves' grieving family this week urged the shooter to turn themselves in to law enforcement. —

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026 Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. —

NBC news, 25 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cowardly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowardly

Adjective

Weeks later, the Flyers removed the interim tag from Briere, hired Keith Jones as team president and were officially in a rebuild — and not afraid of using the word.

— Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
This is an unsparing portrait of addiction, but isn’t afraid to show moments of joy or tenderness, or what’s cool and interesting in this particular youth culture.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026

Definition of afraid

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“Cowardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowardly. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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