Thesaurus results for COWER

Q: How is the word 'cower' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cower are cringe , fawn , toady , and truckle . While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people. // cowering before a bully

Q: When might 'cringe' be a better fit than 'cower'?

The synonyms cringe and cower are sometimes interchangeable, but cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility. // a cringing sycophant

Q: When could 'fawn' be used to replace 'cower'?

While in some cases nearly identical to cower , fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention. // waiters fawning over a celebrity

Q: In what contexts can 'toady' take the place of 'cower'?

In some situations, the words toady and cower are roughly equivalent. However, toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude. // toadying to his boss

Q: When is 'truckle' a more appropriate choice than 'cower'?

Although the words truckle and cower have much in common, truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior. // truckling to a powerful lobbyist

cower

verb

ˈkau̇(-ə)r

Definition of cower next

as in to cringe

to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission the abused dog always cowered in the presence of its master

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word cower distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cower are cringe, fawn, toady, and truckle. While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

When might cringe be a better fit than cower?

The synonyms cringe and cower are sometimes interchangeable, but cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

When could fawn be used to replace cower?

While in some cases nearly identical to cower, fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

In what contexts can toady take the place of cower?

In some situations, the words toady and cower are roughly equivalent. However, toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

When is truckle a more appropriate choice than cower?

Although the words truckle and cower have much in common, truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

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 cower His crackdown has more than a few similarities with a military invasion of some cities, his roundups have left immigrant communities cowering and their neighbors defiant. —

Phil Elliott, Time, 17 Feb. 2026 The homeless man accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a Manhattan apartment building was found cowering in a closet in upstate New York when cops zeroed in on his location, prosecutors said Thursday. —

Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026 In some sense, there’s a palpable disgust that this community has responded not by cowering, not by submitting, not by being grateful for this sort of armed invasion that is meant to stress everyone out, but by trying to foil it. —

Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026 Goetz saw two female passengers on the ground, paralyzed and cowering in fear. —

Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cower

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cower

Verb

The irony is that Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy would be the first person to cringe at all the attention being placed on her Levi’s jeans and basic white button-downs.

— Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2026
There was a time when Lauren Conrad would cringe looking back at MTV's groundbreaking reality series Laguna Beach.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Mar. 2026

Definition of cringe

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cowed

cower

cowered

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“Cower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cower. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

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Last Updated: 21 Mar 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of cower

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