Synonyms of cower

cower

verb

ˈkau̇(-ə)r 

as in to cringe

to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission

the abused dog always cowered in the presence of its master

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cringe
• flinch
• grovel
• recoil
• quail
• shrink
• blanch
• kowtow
• whiten
• blench
• fawn
• toady
• squinch

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cower distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cower are cringe, fawn, toady, and truckle. While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

When might cringe be a better fit than cower?

The synonyms cringe and cower are sometimes interchangeable, but cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

When could fawn be used to replace cower?

While in some cases nearly identical to cower, fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

In what contexts can toady take the place of cower?

In some situations, the words toady and cower are roughly equivalent. However, toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

When is truckle a more appropriate choice than cower?

Although the words truckle and cower have much in common, truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cower

In Park’s film, So Si-min (Shin Hye-sun) is a former champion boxer turned teacher who arrives at a high school whose students cower under the reign of the ruthless Han Su-kang (Lee Jun-young). —Robert Daniels, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025

The top-grossing films of the ’90s, such as Titanic and Jurassic Park, had budgets that would cower in the face of the $300 million+ figures now seen from such fares as the Russo Brothers’ The Electric State, now streaming on Netflix. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2025

The track-only Bugatti Bolide is one of the very fastest cars in the world, topping out at a claimed 311 mph, which makes mere supercars cower in fear. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2025

As a society navigating the choppy waters of quick-draw feuds and biting vitriol—no matter the triviality or seriousness of the topic in question—we are often cowered into joining the chorus versus belting out a solo for fear of being singled out. —Christina L. Sgro, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025