cow

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cow different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cow are browbeat, bulldoze, bully, and intimidate. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.

not at all cowed by the odds against making it in show business

When is it sensible to use browbeat instead of cow?

The words browbeat and cow can be used in similar contexts, but browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

In what contexts can bulldoze take the place of cow?

While in some cases nearly identical to cow, bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

Where would bully be a reasonable alternative to cow?

Although the words bully and cow have much in common, bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

When can intimidate be used instead of cow?

While the synonyms intimidate and cow are close in meaning, intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

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 cow The 2019 strikes did not cow Pakistan or separatist militants; the cycle of attack and reprisal persists, with each incident raising the stakes for escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Sushant Singh, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025 Lazzarini promised that the agency would not be cowed by Israel’s actions. Eugenia Yosef and Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2025 And there’s no money to compensate for the damage that the mere presence of wolves does to cow herds. Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025 At a time like this, people who occupy positions of power and visibility — members of Congress, university presidents, top editors and CEOs of major media enterprises, senior partners in major law firms — must not cow to Trump’s threats. Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cow
Verb
  • But moving from being a casual fan into understanding the intricacies of tennis can be intimidating.
    Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Although new gardeners often find coming up with a design intimidating, there are existing templates to work from.
    Special to The Denver Post, Denver Post, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • For years, Griffin never talked about being bullied as a child.
    Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • Well, in Alva’s case, in the months after her very public divorce, the New York Times society column straight up bullied her by writing stories about all the super fun parties and balls her sister-in-law Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt threw while Alva was in exile.
    Alexis Nedd, IndieWire, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • But their return has also angered and frightened livestock farmers and others in rural communities who are having to learn to live alongside these once nearly-extinct creatures.
    Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 9 July 2025
  • But on Friday night, the booms and blasts of celebratory fireworks appear to have frightened them away.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • The combination of a floodlight and a camera is a great way to scare off intruders and get better quality footage at night.
    Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025
  • Simply pull the pin, and the device will emit a blaring siren sound in combination with a strobe light that will draw attention to your situation and scare away would-be threats.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • No doubt that White House aide Stephen Miller, incensed by the possibility that some hard-working immigrants might be left alone, cornered the president and badgered him into rescinding brief and limited restrictions in service to his goal of having immigration agents make 3,000 arrests per day.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
  • While Trump had yet to address the CPI numbers himself Wednesday, the president has been badgering Chair Jerome Powell and his cohorts on the Federal Open Market Committee to cut rates.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • Your trash schedule might not be top of mind this Independence Day between going to fireworks displays, making a last-minute run to the grocery store or getting startled by loud booms.
    Eleanor Nash July 3, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2025
  • According to a crash report, a cicada flew into the driver's window, startling the driver.
    Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cow. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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