View synonyms for

cowardly

[kou-erd-lee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

lacking courage; contemptibly timid.
Synonyms: , , , , , , , , , ,
Antonyms:
characteristic of or befitting a coward; despicably mean, covert, or unprincipled.
a cowardly attack on a weak, defenseless man.

adverb

like a coward.

cowardly

/ ˈ�첹ʊə��ɪ /

adjective

of or characteristic of a coward; lacking courage

Discover More

Other Word Forms

cowardliness noun
ˈ��Ƿɲ��Ա�� noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowardly¹

First recorded in 1325–75 cowardly for def. 3, and in 1550–60 cowardly for def. 1; Middle English adverb couardli, couarli, couherdeli, is derivative of the adjective couard coward + -ly ( def. )

Discover More

Synonym Study

Cowardly, timid, timorous refer to a lack of courage or self-confidence. Cowardly means weakly or basely fearful in the presence of danger: The cowardly wretch deserted his comrades in battle. Timid means lacking in boldness or self-confidence even when there is no danger present: a timid person who stood in the way of his own advancement. Timorous suggests a timidity based on an exaggeration of dangers or on an imaginary creation of dangers: timorous as a mouse.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"You made a cowardly attack on an elderly man," he added.

From

“I think it’s cowardly for the mayor to not testify,” he said.

From

He later labelled their move a "cowardly act" as he addressed farmers at a convention held in the Free State province.

From

“No office or post is worth the life of a person,” the governor wrote on social media, calling the slayings “cowardly.”

From

Prosecutors said the pair carried out the "mindless thuggery" as a "bit of a laugh" but, when they realised the public's fury, they were too cowardly to confess.

From

Related Words

dastardly��

cowardice cowardness

Browse