COWED Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

cowed 1 of 2

adjective

as in intimidated

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cowed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of cow

as in bullied

to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats a sharp glare cowed the child into being quiet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 cowed

Verb

What stood out was his confidence; Bouaddi was never cowed up against the experienced pairing of Bruno Guimaraes and Casemiro. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Refusing to be cowed, Sartre responded to Aron with his own book on Marx, the nine-hundred-page Critique of Dialectical Reason, in 1960. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026 England looked cowed and browbeaten by the second half of the semifinal, which allowed Lionel Messi to do what only Lionel Messi can do. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 July 2026 Instead, several of Kendall’s key allies are cowed by Logan’s intimidating presence — even Roman buckles under the pressure — and the media titan declares victory. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026 Producers have been cowed internally after the show has been undermined by a media company that has consistently refused to stand up for it in public. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 June 2026 Still, the stereotype of the Spirit customer was not of a traveller cowed by a need to be thrifty. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026 The Kid Line of Marat Khusnutdinov, Fraser Minten and James Hagens drew raves from Sturm in the first two games up in Buffalo for its details and refusal to be cowed by the hostile environment in Buffalo. — Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026 Bruce Springsteen was standing up to the president, while universities and law firms were being cudgeled and cowed. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowed

Adjective

The biggest hurdle, though, is simply believing the Elle Woods who learns to prove her doubters wrong at 16 would be so intimidated when faced with doing it again at 22.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 June 2026
In traditional settings, people often feel rushed, intimidated, and unseen.

— Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026

Definition of intimidated

Verb

As Southampton’s Cyle Larin showed in April’s 5-1 thrashing, the defence is susceptible to being bullied physically at times.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Growing up in Martinsville, Virginia, Jesse experienced deep poverty and, Cindy said, was bullied because of it.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of bullied

Adjective

Audiences who endured the Miramax era have been browbeaten to believe that the best picture Oscar should go to a period piece that chokes out a sob from audiences.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Not to the extent that the user is necessarily being browbeaten.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Definition of browbeaten

Verb

Fig, a dog from Tulare County, disappeared after becoming frightened by fireworks and gunfire during Fourth of July celebrations, according to authorities.

— Denis Akbari, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Fig, an Australian shepherd, ran away from home after getting frightened by July Fourth fireworks.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026

Definition of frightened

Adjective

At the end, there’s a message in the credits which says that this film is dedicated to those who are oppressed and that your time will come.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 July 2026
The Irish were the original oppressed people from the English Empire, and the original colony.

— Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026

Definition of oppressed

Adjective

Pour into a tall glass, fill with more crushed ice, and top with the sherry.

— Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2026
The architects used building materials like bricks made of crushed sand and ash residue that have been found to be effective insulators, deflecting heat.

— Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of crushed

Adjective

Just as iconic is the song’s inclusion in the classic 2003 comedy Old School, starring Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson, and Vince Vaughn as three downtrodden thirtysomethings who start their own fraternity.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 9 July 2026
The series tracks the pair’s investment in Wrexham AFC, a once-downtrodden team in Wales that has since risen to the verge of a promotion to the Premier League, the highest tier of British pro soccer.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 June 2026

Definition of downtrodden

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“Cowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowed. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of cowed

adjective

verb

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