as in frightened
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
a sharp glare cowed the child into being quiet
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in intimidated
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cowed
Philip Elliott, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Quoting the president's message, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, said his city would not be cowed by threats of military deployment.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
CEOs are cowed by the list, the FT’s Gillian Tett says.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
My hunch is that many who in private criticize Israel or America’s support for Israel never say a word in public, cowed into silence by the sword of Damocles hanging over them — the omnipresent threat of charges of antisemitism.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
In each of these instances, Trump wants power and the majority Republicans in Congress have been too cowed to resist him.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
The set’s background changed to a gaudy gold, Stewart played the role of an obsequious and cowed host who is terrified of saying the wrong thing on air (not entirely unlike how his former TDS colleague Stephen Colbert would play a right-wing character on the show).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
If the Democrats are cowed by that threat, their leaders are not showing it.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Quoting the president's message, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, said his city would not be cowed by threats of military deployment.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
CEOs are cowed by the list, the FT’s Gillian Tett says.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
My hunch is that many who in private criticize Israel or America’s support for Israel never say a word in public, cowed into silence by the sword of Damocles hanging over them — the omnipresent threat of charges of antisemitism.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
In each of these instances, Trump wants power and the majority Republicans in Congress have been too cowed to resist him.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
The set’s background changed to a gaudy gold, Stewart played the role of an obsequious and cowed host who is terrified of saying the wrong thing on air (not entirely unlike how his former TDS colleague Stephen Colbert would play a right-wing character on the show).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowed
Verb
-
While exhibitions are the biggest draw, the site has also welcomed more than 5,000 people to its open days, including 1,600 students from nearby schools who might feel intimidated to step into Chanel’s offices in central Paris.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
We will not be intimidated by your threat to engage in mass firings.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Not to the extent that the user is necessarily being browbeaten.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There are liberals in media, but the corporations are now either controlled by the right wing or frightened of it.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Family pets, especially dogs, are frightened by the noise and will hide or try to run away.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
One answer was to build a Jewish state; the other, to fight for the emancipation of all oppressed people through universalist, often left-wing, politics.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
-
To One Piece fans, the flag symbolizes Luffy’s quest to chase his dreams, liberate oppressed people, and fight the autocratic World Government.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
After getting bullied in elementary school, his mom, the comic book writer Elaine Lee, homeschooled him.—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In fact, this whole jaunt to Flatbush has been a somewhat haunting trip down memory lane for Oliver, who has been having flashbacks of being bullied and judged for his little purple scarf and penchant for the arts.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Billions of microbes are hard at work dissolving compounds in this giant mound of crushed ore from Escondida, the biggest copper mine on the planet.—
Vanessa Bates Ramirez,
Scientific American,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Embedded with crushed tourmaline, jade, obsidian, and amethyst, HealthyLine’s multitasking wellness device puts five types of tension-melting therapy at one’s fingertips.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The reportedly downtrodden facility is also where Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is imprisoned.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The group has managed over the years to tie the issue of its weapons to its own identity and the very fate of the once-downtrodden Lebanese Shia community.—
Bilal Y. Saab,
Time,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowed. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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