cow

verb

Definition of cownext
as in to intimidate
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats a sharp glare cowed the child into being quiet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cow different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cow are browbeat, bulldoze, bully, and intimidate. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," 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

When is it sensible to use browbeat instead of cow?

The words browbeat and cow can be used in similar contexts, but browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

In what contexts can bulldoze take the place of cow?

While in some cases nearly identical to cow, bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

Where would bully be a reasonable alternative to cow?

Although the words bully and cow have much in common, bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

When can intimidate be used instead of cow?

While the synonyms intimidate and cow are close in meaning, intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cow School curriculums were sanitized; the press was cowed. —Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026 Glaser herself appeared somewhat cowed by her own brazenness — which turned out to be the setup for another bit. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026 The senator and Navy veteran isn’t likely to be cowed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s lawless attempt to silence him by seeking to demote him post-retirement. —Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026 Musk, who owns X, wants to promote the belief that the truth can be found on social media, and that the practitioners of real journalism are allegedly independent amateurs, such as Shirley, who can ask questions without being cowed by the woke agenda. —Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cow
  1. intimidate
  2. bully
  3. frighten
  4. scare
  5. badger
  6. startle
Verb
  • But overall, the Seahawks’ run game is far from intimidating, ranking 14th by DVOA and even worse by other advanced metrics, mostly due to an average offensive line with clear weak spots.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
  • While the idea of pouring water through your nose can sound intimidating, millions of people swear by it for easing congestion and improving breathing.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of intimidate
Verb
  • In 2021, the mother of one of Asher Vann’s friends accused him of bullying her son and began a social media campaign against him.
    — Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The young boy then has to navigate being 10 and being bullied, having crushes on girls, all while older siblings Yvette (Essence Atkins) and Marcus (Jason Weaver) cringe at the thought of him being at the same high school.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of bully
Verb
  • Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.
    — Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of frighten
Verb
  • Why this message is designed to scare This scam relies on presentation, not accuracy.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • That kind of stuff is fun, [and] doesn’t scare me too much.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of scare
Verb
  • But players – Seahawks, Patriots, and any others past and present – have been badgered by reporters all week about whether an electrical substation next to the 49ers’ practice field is sabotaging players’ health.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The future five-time Super Bowl MVP was with his family, sitting five rows from the top of the stadium, badgering his parents to buy him an oversized foam finger.
    — Daniel Brown, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of badger
Verb
  • Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.
    — Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
  • After several chest compressions, Briana startled awake and cried.
    — Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of startle

Browse Nearby Words

coveys
cow
coward
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cow. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cow

Nglish: Translation of cow for Spanish Speakers

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