cowing

verb

present participle of cow
as in intimidating
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

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 cowing Instead of cowing Iran, the Israeli strike escalated the war. — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowing
  1. intimidating
  2. bullying
  3. scaring
Verb
  • While their titles might seem intimidating, the reality is that these tried-and-true techniques can be really effective for anyone.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Recreational leagues can be intimidating, are often male-dominated and require a level of skill too high for casual players.
    — Lindsay Davenport, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of intimidating
Verb
  • But, said Vincent Joralemon, a director at UC Berkeley’s Center for Law & Technology, the states aren’t asking for Meta to be held liable over predatory or bullying messages on their own.
    — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • These numbers do not mean every disagreement counts as bullying.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of bullying
Verb
  • Few griz/hunter interactions ever move beyond the scaring stage.
    — Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Be a menace to people in the community, driving his boat 70 to 80 miles per hour, driving around scaring the heck out of people, taking people's lives.
    — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of scaring

Browse Nearby Words

cowhiding
cowing
cowinner
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowing. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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