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cowering

ADJECTIVE

cowardly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dastardly

WEAK

afraid anxious apprehensive backward base chicken-hearted 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

ADJECTIVE

fainthearted

Synonyms

WEAK

afraid cowardly cowed fearful frightened gutless having cold feet intimidated lily-livered meek mousy spineless unassertive weak wimpy yellow

ADJECTIVE

fawning

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flattering

STRONG

bootlicking bowing crawling cringing humble ingratiating kowtowing prostrate scraping sniveling

WEAK

abject adulatory brown-nosing compliant mealy-mouthed obsequious parasitic servile slavish spineless submissive subservient sycophant sycophantic

Antonyms

WEAK

aloof cool disinterested proud unfriendly

ADJECTIVE

hangdog

Synonyms

WEAK

ashamed browbeaten conscience-stricken defeated downcast guilty intimidated sheepish wretched

ADJECTIVE

recreant

Synonyms

STRONG

apostate base craven low skulking timid yellow yielding

WEAK

afraid arrant dastardly defecting disloyal faithless false falsehearted fearful frightened gutless hesitant mean-spirited perfidious pigeonhearted scared sneaking spiritless timorous traitorous treacherous unfaithful unmanly vile

Antonyms

STRONG

bold brave honest moral strong

WEAK

courageous loyal

ADJECTIVE

subservient

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deferential submissive

STRONG

compliant

WEAK

a slave to abject acquiescent at one's beck and call at one's mercy bootlicking cringing docile fawning ignoble in one's clutches in one's pocket in one's power mean menial obeisant obsequious resigned servile slavish subject sycophantic under one's thumb

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disobedient

WEAK

controlling domineering unhelpful unnecessary useless

ADJECTIVE

timid

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambivalent bashful demure diffident fearful feeble frightened gentle humble modest nervous weak

STRONG

Milquetoast shrinking trembling wavering yellow

WEAK

afraid apprehensive badgered browbeaten bullied capricious cowardly cowed coy daunted fainthearted having cold feet intimidated irresolute mousy pusillanimous retiring shaky soft spineless spiritless submissive timorous unassertive unassured unnerved vacillating

Antonyms

STRONGEST

able bold brave calm conceited courageous egotistical extroverted loud proud strong unabashed unafraid

WEAK

daring fearless

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.

The image of a fluffy white dog cowering in a corner tugged on heartstrings across the globe.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

For Ms. Sweeney and Ms. Seyfried it provides an endless variety of opportunities to run through the soap-opera playbook of screaming, cowering, deceiving and attacking depending on the circumstances, which grow increasingly horrifying.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

On Friday, Musk shared two side-by-side A.I.-generated images of graffiti-style stencils: a smiling, handsome Kirk, and a cowering, dying Zarutska.

From Slate • Sep. 12, 2025

Comrades from the Mercian Regiment found him cowering under his bed in his full British Army combat gear.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2025

She was too busy cowering behind her cash register.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

cowering

Example Sentences

Related Words