CUR Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

cur

noun

ˈkər

Definition of cur

as in coward

a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger denounced as curs those police officers who deserted their posts during the hurricane and its aftermath

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bastard

a person whose behavior is offensive to others only a cur would abandon friends in their time of need

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 cur That didn’t stop Annie, a mix of Staffordshire bull terrier, black mouth cur and Siberian husky, from sharing in the treats being handed out by Phoenix’s owner Maribel Gonzalez. — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 Since switching to bears, Propst and Starks have accumulated a sound, reliable pack of bear dogs-redbones, Walkers, mountain curs and black-and-tans. — John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025 His Orlok is more feral and red-blooded than previous iterations, appearing swathed in ursine furs and accompanied by mangy curs. — Celia Mattison, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024 His arch nemesis, Richard Nixon, had fled the White House like a diseased cur after the Watergate scandal and in his disappearance from the political scene, Thompson lost perhaps his greatest muse. — Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023 On a blustery Saturday afternoon in April, 18 of 25 groups there had dogs off a leash, including this reporter with her black mouth cur mix, Archer. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2023 Behind the bar, the enormous portrait of the family’s late dog Rio — a black mouth cur for whom the restaurant is named — watches over the room. — Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 21 Dec. 2020 Pop it into first gear, low range, and this cur will claw halfway up the Washington Monument with no driver at the wheel. — John Phillips, Car and Driver, 24 Mar. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cur

Noun

In reality, the refs just do the bidding of the cowards behind the curtain.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 14 July 2026
That’s the sign of a true coward.

— Maria Bamford, Vulture, 23 June 2026

Definition of coward

Noun

On the other side are industry advocates, who say the animals are well cared for, the stables are fine and the owners and drivers love their horses like most pet owners love their dogs.

— Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
In practical terms, this means the HSD Gen 3 can be set up for more than a light bag or two, taking a child, an adult passenger, a family dog, groceries, or heavier everyday cargo.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 July 2026

Definition of dog

Noun

Led and inspired by Chef Wayne Sharpe, this fast Jamaican restaurant serves iconic island meals like jerk chicken, jerk shrimp, vegan jerk, pineapple plantains, rice and peas, and Jamaican patties.

— Alexandra Phelps July 15, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Bates plans to expand that menu in the new brick-and-mortar restaurant, adding dishes like jerk catfish pasta and Louisiana Cajun cream sauce over dirty rice.

— Joey Schamber, jsonline.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of jerk

Noun

This take on the mad clown of Gotham is less Jack Nicholson and George Romero, choosing a more stoic approach inspired by Conrad Veidt silent films and German expressionism.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026
Mimi said one customer had a picture of a scary clown in his profile and his name listed as MURDER, in all caps.

— Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026

Definition of clown

Noun

On Martha’s Vineyard, a low-lying fence with chicken wire is installed seasonally at the entrance of a key breeding site for oystercatchers and other seabirds and shorebirds, which has kept skunks and raccoons that eat their eggs off the beach.

— Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Very Rivian also means yeti graphics on its vehicles, and Easter eggs like a frog and skunk underneath the washer fluid cover up front.

— Greg Migliore, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of skunk

Noun

The tracker implanted inside her will eventually lead the team to more snakes.

— Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Guidry, at the prow, raised the lantern, revealed in the circle oflight a bobbing tangle of sargassum weed, a swimming snake, a child’s cloth doll.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of snake

Noun

Scientists like Munster are indispensable for figuring out the source of pandemic viruses, whether bats, pigs, rats, or some other animal, Andersen said.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Non-breeding mole-rat females are known to run high on prolactin, a hormone that also suppresses fertility during lactation in nursing mammals.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026