coward

noun

cow·​ard ˈkau̇(-ə)rd 

: one who shows disgraceful fear or timidity

a coward who deserted his troops

coward adjective

Synonyms

• craven
• chicken

Examples of coward in a Sentence

a proven coward who had deserted his troops

the soldiers who ran as soon as the first shots were fired were branded as cowards

Recent Examples on the Web

With rising apprehension, the Cabinet kept deliberating for a couple of days while Sumner did his best to shut down jingoistic rhetoric in the Senate from politicians who demanded that Lincoln not be a coward in the face of Great Britain. —Zaakir Tameez june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025

Because these cowards fear being doxed for their inhumane and unconscionable actions. —Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025

Floundering in his career and stressed about planning his wedding, Yvan’s woes compound when his oldest friends turn their insults on him, calling him a coward, an amoeba and a fan of motel art. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025

That’s when one coward hit me from behind with a backpack. —Brie Stimson , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French cuard, from cue, coe tail, from Latin cauda

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coward

• cowered
• floured
• flowered
• froward
• glowered
• powered
• scoured
• showered
• soured
• towered
• devoured
• embowered

Kids Definition

coward

noun

cow·​ard ˈkau̇(-ə)rd 

: one who shows shameful fear or timidity

coward adjective

Etymology

Middle English coward "coward," from early French cuard "coward," from cue, coe "tail," from Latin cauda "tail" — related to coda, cue entry 2, queue see Word History at queue

Word Origin

A frightened animal may put its tail between its hind legs, and if it is very frightened it may run away. In an animal like the hare, the white flash of the fleeing tail is especially obvious. This action gives us the phrase turn tail, meaning "to run away, flee." But even tailless animals like people can turn tail and run when frightened. It is in the "tail end" of an army that you might expect to find the cowards. We do not know whether the word coward developed from the idea of an animal's tail or an army's, but we do know the word comes from an early French word that meant "tail."

Biographical Definition

Coward

biographical name

Cow·​ard ˈkau̇(-ə)rd 

Sir Noël Peirce 1899–1973 English actor and dramatist