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

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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

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 cower Frisbee, on the other hand, cowered and faced away from the camera. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2025 But we’re not so easily cowered. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025 The Guthrie family cowers in obedient fear of its brooding patriarch (Peter Mullan). Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2025 Another video shows a man cowering on the ground as he is kicked repeatedly in the face. Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cower
Verb
  • One harbinger of this is the fact that many of the contestants who star in this season of the show are either cringe, mean, or both.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2025
  • You natter and natter without ever having to think of what to say or cringe through any awkward silence.
    Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ross passed the day's examination with flying colors, barely flinching at the rubber chicken.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
  • But none of the band members ever flinched over the divide that formed over their pre- and post-Vheissu sound.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cower. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on cower

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