intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.
intimidated by so many other bright freshmen
cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.
not at all cowed by the odds against making it in show business
bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.
bulldozed the city council into approving the plan
bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.
bullied into giving up their lunch money
browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.
browbeat the witness into a contradiction
Examples of cow in a Sentence
Noun
The cows need to be milked twice a day. Verb
I refuse to be cowed by their threats.
a sharp glare cowed the child into being quiet
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Noun
Yes, pets like dogs and cats are just as vulnerable to screwworm infestations as cows and wildlife.—
Alice Park,
Time,
2 July 2026 In Spearfish, Yu hesitates over a set of cow grates and dumps her bike at low velocity.—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 July 2026
Verb
Still, the stereotype of the Spirit customer was not of a traveller cowed by a need to be thrifty.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026 In Paris, bigger stages and tougher competition than she’s used to have not cowed the 24-year-old.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cow
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Adjective
Middle English cou, from Old English cū; akin to Old High German kuo cow, Latin bos head of cattle, Greek bous, Sanskrit go
Verb
probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish kue to subdue
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
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