: afraid in a way that makes you unable to do what is right or expected : lacking courage
He insisted on avoiding a cowardly retreat.
She made a cowardly decision to go along with the group.
a cowardly thief
a cowardly attack from behind
Cite this Entry
“Cowardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cowardly. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
