as in craven
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger
the soldiers who ran as soon as the first shots were fired were branded as cowards
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as in cowardly
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of coward
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
That need for validation is seen most immediately in Isabella but broadens out to Sam the director in the film whom Isabella accuses in a moment of catty lucidity of fearing that he will be exposed as a talentless coward with nothing to say….
—John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Nov. 2025
No to cowards like Tucker Carlson, who normalize their trash.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Some protesters brought signs calling King a coward.
—NPR, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coward
Noun
O’Reilly starts Mothma from a place of sophistication, grace, and panicked resolve, then steadily turns her into an avatar of disgust at the Senate’s collection of corrupt pushovers and cowards.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
That need for validation is seen most immediately in Isabella but broadens out to Sam the director in the film whom Isabella accuses in a moment of catty lucidity of fearing that he will be exposed as a talentless coward with nothing to say….
—John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Nov. 2025
No to cowards like Tucker Carlson, who normalize their trash.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Some protesters brought signs calling King a coward.
—NPR, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coward
Noun
-
Obi-Wan, the craven victor, revealing his true self.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Missourians have the opportunity to put this craven power grab up for a vote.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Therefore, the cowardly officer could’ve later arrested her or simply disabled the vehicle by shooting out a tire with the same accuracy.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Just cowardly, shameful, dishonest people.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Endless menu of options and toppings, plus 11 different chicken pizzas and 12 different calzones?—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Jan. 2026
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Bird flu, a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus, affects poultry — including chickens, ducks and turkeys — and some wild bird species, including geese and shorebirds, the department said.—
Laura Fay,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Trump and the gutless GOP Congress may be leading America into World War III.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
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In a year of gutless moves by major media companies, this may be the most gutless.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coward. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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