cower

verb

cow·​er ˈkau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce cower (audio)
cowered; cowering; cowers

intransitive verb

: to shrink away or crouch especially for shelter from something that menaces, domineers, or dismays
They all cowered silently in their places, seeming to know in advance that some terrible thing was about to happen.George Orwell
Choose the Right Synonym for cower

fawn, toady, truckle, cringe, cower mean to behave abjectly before a superior.

fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

Examples of cower in a Sentence

They cowered at the sight of the gun. She was cowering in the closet. I cowered behind the door.
Recent Examples on the Web The young men cowered in the waiting room and on the upper floors, terrified that their attackers might find them. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 There were also images posted on social channels of an armed man and cowering people at a metro station in Quito — which turned out to be video of an emergency drill done last fall. Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2024 Plus, a robot vacuum cleaner leaves him cowering in the corner of his living room. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2024 There are hardcore Bengals fans who pace around the living room and scream at the TV in a way that makes pets cower in the closet. Rasputin Todd, The Enquirer, 12 Jan. 2024 But too many Republicans cowered on a Senate vote to convict. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2024 By cowering just behind Atlanta’s veneer of upward mobility and celebrity, mayors like Dickens effectively eschew valid critiques of their criminal legal system tactics. Essence, 10 Jan. 2024 Here was a man who, faced with Britain’s imperial collapse, did not cower but dashed around the world with a dinner jacket and a pistol. Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024 The explosions scare babies and frighten animals, turning them into cowering creatures. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cower.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English couren, probably from Middle Low German kūren

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cower was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cower

Cite this Entry

“Cower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cower. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cower

verb
cow·​er ˈkau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce cower (audio)
: to shrink away or crouch down (as from fear)

More from Merriam-Webster on cower

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