Cowardly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adverb adjective /ˈkau̇(-ə)rd-lē/ cow·ard·ly

Meaning & Definition of Cowardly

Cowardly (adverb)

  1. in a cowardly manner

Cowardly (adjective)

  1. being, resembling, or befitting a coward

Cowardly (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered (archaic), poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow
    related: diffident, fainthearted, fearful, timid, timorous, afraid, frightened, scared, careful, cautious, wary, bashful, coy, shy, feeble, soft, unmanly, weak
    opposite: brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic, intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous
    near: audacious, bold, brazen, cheeky, nervy, plucky, spirited, spunky, determined, resolute

Cowardly (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in cravenly, fearfully

    similar: cravenly, fearfully, pusillanimously, spinelessly, spiritlessly, timorously, diffidently, mousily, shyly, skittishly, timidly, anxiously, apprehensively, nervously, carefully, cautiously, heedfully, prudently
    opposite: boldly, bravely, courageously, dauntlessly, doughtily, fearlessly, gallantly, gutsily, heroically, intrepidly, manfully, stalwartly, stoutheartedly, valiantly, valorously, determinedly, firmly, gamely, grittily, pluckily, resolutely, spiritedly, spunkily, stoutly

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cowardly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cowardly:

Archaic: milk-livered
chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow, cravenly, fearfully, pusillanimously, spinelessly, spiritlessly, timorously, diffidently, mousily, shyly, skittishly, timidly, anxiously, apprehensively, nervously, carefully, cautiously, heedfully, prudently

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cowardly

Words with the opposite meaning of Cowardly:

brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic, intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous, boldly, bravely, courageously, dauntlessly, doughtily, fearlessly, gallantly, gutsily, heroically, intrepidly, manfully, stalwartly

Related Words for Cowardly

diffident, fainthearted, fearful, timid, timorous, afraid, frightened, scared, careful, cautious, wary, bashful, coy, shy, feeble, soft, unmanly, weak

Near Antonyms of Cowardly

audacious, bold, brazen, cheeky, nervy, plucky, spirited, spunky, determined, resolute

Word Forms of Cowardly

Derived words: cowardliness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Cowardly

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Cowardly

What does "Cowardly" mean?

"Cowardly" means in a cowardly manner. As an an adverb and an adjective, it is defined as: in a cowardly manner. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cowardly"?

Other words for "Cowardly" include chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered and milk-livered. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cowardly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cowardly"?

There are 50 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cowardly". Common alternatives include chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered, poltroon and pusillanimous.

What is the opposite of "Cowardly"?

Antonyms of "Cowardly" include brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant and greathearted. Near antonyms include audacious, bold, brazen and cheeky.

How do you use "Cowardly" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cowardly" in a sentence: "a cowardly bully who picks on the weak and defenseless"; "vile charges that were made in a cowardly, unsigned letter".

Is "Cowardly" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cowardly" can be used as an adverb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Cowardly"?

"Cowardly" is pronounced /ˈkau̇(-ə)rd-lē/ and divided into syllables as cow·ard·ly.

What is the origin of the word "Cowardly"?

First known use: 14th century.