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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.

But it certainly makes him look cowardly that he can’t even muster the fortitude to say it in public, much less to his boss’s face.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 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

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

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

He was cowardly and dangerous, and obviously very good at his job.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut