CUR Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

cur

noun

ˈkər

Definition of cur

as in coward

a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger denounced as curs those police officers who deserted their posts during the hurricane and its aftermath

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bastard

a person whose behavior is offensive to others only a cur would abandon friends in their time of need

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 cur That didn’t stop Annie, a mix of Staffordshire bull terrier, black mouth cur and Siberian husky, from sharing in the treats being handed out by Phoenix’s owner Maribel Gonzalez. — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 Since switching to bears, Propst and Starks have accumulated a sound, reliable pack of bear dogs-redbones, Walkers, mountain curs and black-and-tans. — John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025 His Orlok is more feral and red-blooded than previous iterations, appearing swathed in ursine furs and accompanied by mangy curs. — Celia Mattison, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024 His arch nemesis, Richard Nixon, had fled the White House like a diseased cur after the Watergate scandal and in his disappearance from the political scene, Thompson lost perhaps his greatest muse. — Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023 On a blustery Saturday afternoon in April, 18 of 25 groups there had dogs off a leash, including this reporter with her black mouth cur mix, Archer. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2023 Behind the bar, the enormous portrait of the family’s late dog Rio — a black mouth cur for whom the restaurant is named — watches over the room. — Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 21 Dec. 2020 Pop it into first gear, low range, and this cur will claw halfway up the Washington Monument with no driver at the wheel. — John Phillips, Car and Driver, 24 Mar. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cur

Noun

The mythmaking rebellion of Tekena, first of her name, for the sake of a coward’s love was as recognizable to her descendants as their need to cross borders, both ethnic and geographic, in search of a happiness that wasn’t promised.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
In reality, the refs just do the bidding of the cowards behind the curtain.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 14 July 2026

Definition of coward

Noun

Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, had a number of dogs throughout their life.

— Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
Things get increasingly bleak, as the family dog’s heart medicine runs out and Jason has to put him out of his misery, and then — in doomsday prepper mode — carves up the body and puts it in the freezer just in case food gets dire.

— William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of dog

Noun

An Illinois teen has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly committing a deadly stabbing attack while dressed in a clown outfit.

— Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Tyquan Thornton Tyquan Thornton is not only known for being a speedster, with one of the fastest combine times in history, but a class clown as well.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of clown

Noun

Fans of improv, musicals and audience participation will thoroughly enjoy this performance and should be prepared to repent for sins like eating a hamburger, owning too many snakes or yearning for a younger man.

— Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2026
There’s Tom Crutchfield, who loves women with the ardor of Pepé Le Pew but spends most of his time not in pursuit of the ladies but of exotic snakes, lizards, alligators, turtles and whatnot.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of snake

Noun

Sure, Rand Paul has a personal grudge against him, but Paul is crazier than a sh–house rat.

— Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall said Deniro Laster had broken the conditions of his bond by trying to intimidate witnesses and obstruct justice, including by sending a rat emoji on Instagram to a potential witness.

— Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026