as in afraid
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
a cowardly bully who picks on the weak and defenseless vile charges that were made in a cowardly, unsigned letter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cravenly
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 cowardly
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
Nothing is spared in recounting their odious criminal acts and the cowardly machinations of the church’s leadership to hide them.
—Mary Jo McConahay, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
The tech obviously works best when someone less cowardly sings directly into the mic.
—Oskar Oprey, Artforum, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cowardly
Adjective
Playing Switzerland is a dangerous game for a Housewife — never choosing a side is seen as a cowardly position that quickly wears thin.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
Nothing is spared in recounting their odious criminal acts and the cowardly machinations of the church’s leadership to hide them.
—Mary Jo McConahay, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
Adverb
Bill’s smarm has calcified into a kind of mad obsession; Hal is a starkly lonely and cowardly man.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
The tech obviously works best when someone less cowardly sings directly into the mic.
—Oskar Oprey, Artforum, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cowardly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowardly
Adjective
-
And most importantly, surround yourself with other women who think big, talk money openly, and aren’t afraid to build serious wealth.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Will Poulter has never been afraid to get rough on screen and the same apparently applies to his work process as well.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In the new showbiz comedy The Studio, Bryan Cranston has a recurring role as Griffin Mill, the craven movie executive played by Tim Robbins in the 1992 film The Player.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2025
-
In any event Marshall, a craven idiot, is a raucous, vulgar sendup of the bedrock American principle of Manifest Destiny.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Three minors heard gunfire and believed they had been fired at, and were scared of being shot, wrote Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Walls.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Apr. 2025
-
For those who have been scared to shift away from grays and creams, these shades offer an ideal compromise.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump and his spineless acolytes continue to lie to the American people.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Make no mistake: New York's seniors are paying the price for Lawler's weak and spineless leadership.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
And the really jaw-dropping part of AMLO’s gutless abdication?—
Tim Padgett,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Aug. 2024
-
Two baseballs flew down toward the San Diego Padres’ Jurickson Profar from the left-field corner stands, the gutless moves of two cowards.—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Hearts Melt At Moment 'Shut Down' Foster Dog Decides To Trust New Family By Rachael O'Connor Life and Trends Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 Animal lovers' hearts have soared at the moment a frightened foster dog chose to trust the family in her new home.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
-
That takes some fortitude, when world trade is on the verge of collapse, consumers are frightened and businesses can’t plan anything.—
William Baldwin,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Columbia University, through a thoroughly pusillanimous capitulation to a multi-million-dollar threat from the Trump administration, has put that conviction in the grave.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2025
-
There was no fanfare — indeed no announcement or change in Oscar rules — but a firestorm of controversy resulted, followed by the Academy’s cowardly, pusillanimous silence on the issue.—
Armond White,
National Review,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
There was another dastardly transition during James’s Wednesday-afternoon pool party, which was attended only by the cast; Scheana’s sister, Courtney Shay; and the four guys who dropped off the BevMo order that James asked to stay to pad out the numbers.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2024
-
Even despite his loss to Cody Rhodes at Royal Rumble, Owens has been doing some of the best work of his career as a former babyface-turned-heel who feels justified in recent dastardly actions.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cowardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowardly. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share