Synonyms of cowardly

cowardly 1 of 2

adjective

as in afraid

having or showing a shameful lack of courage

a cowardly bully who picks on the weak and defenseless

vile charges that were made in a cowardly, unsigned letter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• afraid
• craven
• scared
• spineless
• gutless
• frightened
• pusillanimous
• dastardly
• unheroic
• yellow
• careful
• timid
• recreant
• poltroon
• fearful
• lily-livered
• chicken
• cautious
• weak
• chickenhearted
• timorous
• milk-livered
• diffident
• feeble
• chicken-livered
• wary
• fainthearted
• bashful
• unmanly
• coy
• shy
• soft

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brave
• heroic
• courageous
• daring
• fearless
• gallant
• valiant
• hardy
• intrepid
• valorous
• stout
• brazen
• gutsy
• bold
• stalwart
• dauntless
• audacious
• cheeky
• stouthearted
• spirited
• lionhearted
• doughty
• plucky
• resolute
• spunky
• greathearted
• nervy
• determined

cowardly

2 of 2

adverb

as in cravenly

Related Words

• cravenly
• fearfully
• spinelessly
• timorously
• timidly
• pusillanimously
• shyly
• diffidently
• nervously
• anxiously
• apprehensively
• spiritlessly
• mousily
• skittishly
• cautiously
• prudently
• heedfully
• carefully

Dissimilar Words

• boldly
• courageously
• fearlessly
• bravely
• heroically
• manfully
• valiantly
• gallantly
• valorously
• stalwartly
• intrepidly
• resolutely
• firmly
• determinedly
• dauntlessly
• pluckily
• gamely
• stoutheartedly
• doughtily
• stoutly
• gutsily
• grittily
• spiritedly
• spunkily

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective cowardly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cowardly are craven, dastardly, and pusillanimous. While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.

a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

When would craven be a good substitute for cowardly?

The synonyms craven and cowardly are sometimes interchangeable, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.

secretly despised her own craven yes-men

When is it sensible to use dastardly instead of cowardly?

While in some cases nearly identical to cowardly, dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.

a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

When could pusillanimous be used to replace cowardly?

In some situations, the words pusillanimous and cowardly are roughly equivalent. However, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.

the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

How does the adjective cowardly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cowardly are craven, dastardly, and pusillanimous. While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.

a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

When would craven be a good substitute for cowardly?

The synonyms craven and cowardly are sometimes interchangeable, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.

secretly despised her own craven yes-men

When is it sensible to use dastardly instead of cowardly?

While in some cases nearly identical to cowardly, dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.

a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

When could pusillanimous be used to replace cowardly?

In some situations, the words pusillanimous and cowardly are roughly equivalent. However, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.

the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cowardly

Adjective

On the flat arid plains below lives the farming community of the Bezaris, who are generally seen by the Hazerans as a group of privileged, cowardly usurers. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026

His crime was deliberate, cowardly and calculated. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026

Adverb

Deputy Brown’s courage in the face of an unprovoked and cowardly attack reflects the very best of our profession. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Dec. 2025

For example, the way Angine tries but doesn’t dare, is kind of cowardly. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 Nov. 2025