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Definitions

cowardly

[kou-erd-lee] / ˈkaʊ ərd li /
ADJECTIVE
fearful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dastardly
WEAK
afraid anxious apprehensive backward base chicken-hearted cowering cowhearted craven diffident dismayed fainthearted frightened gutless having the willies jittery lacking courage lily-livered nervous no guts panicky pigeonhearted pusillanimous recreant retiring running scared scared shrinking shy soft spineless timid timorous weak weak-kneed worthless yellow yellow-bellied
Antonyms
WEAK
bold brave courageous daring dauntless unafraid undaunted unfearful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When Paul and Gaz confront Dee, Taylor’s response is so cowardly that it’s pathetic, suggesting a spinelessness that bedeviled him long before he wound up in jail.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Masoud Pezeshkian said the "cowardly assassination" had left Iran "in deep mourning", after Israel said on Wednesday it had killed Khatib in an air strike.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Hoping someone else will intervene isn’t cowardly; it’s a means of survival in constantly uncertain conditions.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

Villanueva called the decision cowardly when reached on Thursday, noting that Duterte had already been declared fit to stand trial.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Then Enoch said, “I simply have no words. Wait—no—I do! Horace, that is the most stunningly naive and cowardly bit of wishful thinking that I’ve ever heard.”

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs