as in frightened
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
as in intimidated
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cowed
Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Quoting the president's message, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, said his city would not be cowed by threats of military deployment.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
CEOs are cowed by the list, the FT’s Gillian Tett says.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
My hunch is that many who in private criticize Israel or America’s support for Israel never say a word in public, cowed into silence by the sword of Damocles hanging over them — the omnipresent threat of charges of antisemitism.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
In each of these instances, Trump wants power and the majority Republicans in Congress have been too cowed to resist him.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
The set’s background changed to a gaudy gold, Stewart played the role of an obsequious and cowed host who is terrified of saying the wrong thing on air (not entirely unlike how his former TDS colleague Stephen Colbert would play a right-wing character on the show).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
Advertisement Lee is also not cowed by the former reality TV star’s mercurial streak.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Quoting the president's message, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, said his city would not be cowed by threats of military deployment.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
CEOs are cowed by the list, the FT’s Gillian Tett says.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
My hunch is that many who in private criticize Israel or America’s support for Israel never say a word in public, cowed into silence by the sword of Damocles hanging over them — the omnipresent threat of charges of antisemitism.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
In each of these instances, Trump wants power and the majority Republicans in Congress have been too cowed to resist him.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
The set’s background changed to a gaudy gold, Stewart played the role of an obsequious and cowed host who is terrified of saying the wrong thing on air (not entirely unlike how his former TDS colleague Stephen Colbert would play a right-wing character on the show).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowed
Verb
-
Newcastle United vs Barcelona Newcastle and their passionate fans are rarely intimidated by Europe’s biggest clubs visiting, as shown by their 4-1 victory over PSG two seasons ago.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Gates of Lodore is a Perfect Entry If you’re intimidated by the long, multi-week aspect of a Grand Canyon rafting trip, and the extremes that a desert river trip entails, the Gates of Lodore is a perfect introduction to whitewater.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Not to the extent that the user is necessarily being browbeaten.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Family pets, especially dogs, are frightened by the noise and will hide or try to run away.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
-
In the first Nobody, Odenkirk’s Hutch has to reignite the sleeping assassin within himself after his family was frightened by a botched home invasion.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The series was originally based on a novel by Margaret Atwood and followed June's life in a dystopian world called Gilead following a Second American Civil War, where women are oppressed and only used in society for their fertility.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Even the long oppressed Russian people would cheer.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Motivated largely by his desire to please his dead father, who bullied him into believing that toughness is the essence of manhood, Cade insists on pushing past his injury and pursuing his dream.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
19 Sep. 2025
-
For example, Prince William's perspective has been that Meghan Markle bullied palace staff at the private office the two couples shared at Kensington Palace.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Pour ice and all into a big mug or glass, top with crushed ice, and garnish with a mint sprig and/or lime wedge or wheel.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Although the crushed velvet exteriors are the most eye-catching details of the shoes, there’s more to them than what meets the eye.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Beneath Grisham’s pen, Dot Black was a blue-collar chain-smoker meant to stand in for all downtrodden Southern whites.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Those ticket sales would be a huge boon to movie theater owners after the all-important summer stretch ended on a downtrodden note.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowed. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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