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Showing results for cowardly. Search instead for cowardli.
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.

But Tim Moloney KC for the bereaved families said any attempt to suggest arresting Calocane would not have made a difference would be "cowardly and insulting".

From BBC • Feb. 24, 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

Surely, I thought, the film will figure out how it feels by the time it offs a Redfellow who’s merely ordinary-terrible: Bill Camp’s drunken, cowardly banker.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

In the Apple TV series, Rhys, 52, portrays Tom Loftis, a mayor desperate to revive his struggling community, but whose residents view him as "soft and cowardly".

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

When I look at him, I don’t see the cowardly young man who sold me out to Jeanine Matthews, and I don’t hear the excuses he gave afterward.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth