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cow·ard·ly | \ ˈkau̇(-ə)rd-lē 
\
\Definition of cowardly
(Entry 1 of 2)
: in a cowardly manner
cowardly
adjectiveDefinition of cowardly (Entry 2 of 2)
: being, resembling, or befitting a coward a cowardly retreat
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Synonyms & Antonyms for cowardly
Synonyms: Adjective
- chicken,
- chickenhearted,
- chicken-livered,
- craven,
- dastardly,
- gutless,
- lily-livered,
- milk-livered
- [archaic],
- poltroon,
- pusillanimous,
- recreant,
- spineless,
- unheroic,
- yellow
Antonyms: Adjective
- brave,
- courageous,
- daring,
- dauntless,
- doughty,
- fearless,
- gallant,
- greathearted,
- gutsy,
- hardy,
- heroic
- (also heroical),
- intrepid,
- lionhearted,
- stalwart,
- stout,
- stouthearted,
- valiant,
- valorous
Examples of cowardly in a Sentence
Adjective
He insisted on avoiding a cowardly retreat.
She made a cowardly decision to go along with the group.
a cowardly attack from behind
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb And the officer, the superior, a lieutenant, who is still injured at home, by the way, was cowardly attacked with a brick.
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Mark Morales, CNN, "NYPD Commissioner testifies in ongoing investigation into interactions between police and the public," 22 June 2020 There are cowardly racists hiding in the corners, hiding in their nasty existence.
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Nyakio Grieco, refinery29.com, "I’m A Black Entrepreneur Working To Keep My Husband, Children, & Business Alive — & I’m Exhausted," 8 June 2020 But the one that often comes to my mind is cowardly.
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Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, "Five Gang Members Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing 15-Year-Old Boy in Machete Attack," 12 Oct. 2019 But the one that often comes to my mind is cowardly.
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Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, "Five Gang Members Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing 15-Year-Old Boy in Machete Attack," 12 Oct. 2019 For proof that Republicans can be just as lazy, self-serving, and cowardly as Democrats, look no farther than the South Dakota Senate.
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Madeleine Kearns, National Review, "The Cowardly Republicans of South Dakota," 13 Feb. 2020 Turning your back on your family with no explanation at all is cruel, punishing behavior and cowardly.
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Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, "Dear Abby: Rabid football fan bullies co-workers about clothing color," 29 Feb. 2020 But the one that often comes to my mind is cowardly.
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Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, "Five Gang Members Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing 15-Year-Old Boy in Machete Attack," 12 Oct. 2019 But the one that often comes to my mind is cowardly.
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Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, "Five Gang Members Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing 15-Year-Old Boy in Machete Attack," 12 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Just the steady drip, drip, drip of the erosion of democratic norms, the corruption of institutions, and the cowardly compromises of decision makers in courts and congresses.
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Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, "Democracy Dies by a Thousand Cuts," 16 June 2020 Stick to sports was always a crutch for the comfortable and cowardly.
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Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, "Opinion: As America burns amid protests after George Floyd's death, it's time to quit telling athletes to 'stick to sports'," 1 June 2020 Morrissey understands the snotty, cowardly nature of media braggarts as well as those who envy the commanding heights.
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Armond White, National Review, "Morrissey’s Prophetic Journal of the Plague Year," 29 Apr. 2020 Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched.
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Jon Gambrell, BostonGlobe.com, "Iran launched missiles at Iraq bases that host US troops," 8 Jan. 2020 Powerful men, in cowardly efforts to avoid being dragged through the public mud for their bad actions, have used and enforced these non-disclosure agreements to buy the silence of their victims.
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Alyssa Milano, refinery29.com, "Alyssa Milano: The Next Phase of the #MeToo Movement? Justice," 26 Feb. 2020 Some suggest that liberal leaders are too cowardly to do so.
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The Economist, "A useful stick Christians are persecuted in many places. Autocrats exploit this," 18 Dec. 2019 The story turns courageous and cowardly, sometimes in a single scene.
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Darren Franich, EW.com, "Star Wars rewatch: The Last Jedi destroys a legend to rebuild the same legend," 16 Dec. 2019 And just like the rest of the cowardly Republicans, our junior senator — Cory Gardner — once again refuses to put country ahead of party.
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Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, "Letters: Take a mulligan and keep Park Hill Golf Course; Heed the scientists’ warning; Quid pro quo doesn’t matter? (11/8/19)," 8 Nov. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cowardly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for cowardly
cowardly
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of cowardly
: afraid in a way that makes you unable to do what is right or expected : lacking courage
See the full definition for cowardly in the English Language Learners Dictionary
cowardly
adjectivecow·ard·ly | \ ˈkau̇-ərd-lē \
\Kids Definition of cowardly
1 : shamefully fearful
a cowardly traitor
2 : showing shameful fear
Then he … said how hard-hearted and cowardly it was to hurt the weak …— Anna Sewell, Black Beauty
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Time Traveler for cowardly
The first known use of cowardly was in the 14th century
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