COWARDLY Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'cowardly' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cowardly are craven , dastardly , and pusillanimous . While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage. // a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

Q: When would 'craven' be a good substitute for 'cowardly'?

The synonyms craven and cowardly are sometimes interchangeable, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance. // secretly despised her own craven yes-men

Q: When is it sensible to use 'dastardly' instead of 'cowardly'?

While in some cases nearly identical to cowardly , dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous. // a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

Q: When could 'pusillanimous' be used to replace 'cowardly'?

In some situations, the words pusillanimous and cowardly are roughly equivalent. However, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage. // the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

cowardly 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of cowardly

as in afraid

having or showing a shameful lack of courage a cowardly bully who picks on the weak and defenseless vile charges that were made in a cowardly, unsigned letter

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cowardly

2 of 2

adverb

as in cravenly

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How does the adjective cowardly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cowardly are craven, dastardly, and pusillanimous. While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.

a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

When would craven be a good substitute for cowardly?

The synonyms craven and cowardly are sometimes interchangeable, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.

secretly despised her own craven yes-men

When is it sensible to use dastardly instead of cowardly?

While in some cases nearly identical to cowardly, dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.

a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

When could pusillanimous be used to replace cowardly?

In some situations, the words pusillanimous and cowardly are roughly equivalent. However, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.

the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

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 cowardly

Adjective

This caused a great clamor of approval, and a modicum of tepid ooh-la-la disapproval by the folks who actually approved but who were too cowardly to say so, back in the day. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Lindsey Graham is a career, corrupt, cowardly politician. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 10 June 2026

Adverb

The fact that the administration, and our secretary of state and the president tried to blame Israel is outrageous, cowardly and dangerous. — Jim Defede, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026 Further, the word kliba is not necessarily an affirming term in the Mahabharata since it is used derisively, as almost a slur, by men to ridicule and question the masculinity of other men who act cowardly. — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cowardly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowardly

Adjective

The ruling leaves trans student-athletes and their advocates feeling angry and afraid.

— Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 1 July 2026
Pregnant mothers are afraid of their babies not being able to have a home.

— Dennis Valera, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Definition of afraid

Adverb

He’s flanked by his wife, Princess Deidamia, who looks fearfully up at her husband’s encroaching enemies.

— News Desk, Artforum, 6 July 2026
Maybe the only thing scarier than the opening scene of The Happening is Mark Wahlberg attempting to earnestly and fearfully talk to a plant.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026

Definition of fearfully

Adjective

And now the nation will probably never get back to normal because a spineless GOP can never admit that it’s been conned.

— Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 May 2026
Some of Thomas’s critique appeared to be aimed at weak-willed conservatives, including his fellow-Justices, for being, as Thomas perceives it, too spineless to stand up for the ideals enshrined in the Declaration.

— Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026

Definition of spineless

Adjective

Trump’s revenge tour also took down five Indiana state senators who had voted against the midterm gerrymandering to which Florida’s gutless Republicans have agreed.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
Keane called out the Red Wings as gutless for waiting for a home game to exact revenge.

— Troy Renck, Denver Post, 28 May 2026

Definition of gutless

Adjective

In May, a frightened horse rammed into another carriage, causing the vehicle to flip over, injuring the driver.

— ANDREA SACHS THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026
Rodríguez acknowledged that many remain too frightened to return home even after inspections declared some buildings safe.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026

Definition of frightened

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“Cowardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowardly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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