Definition of 'cowardly'

Word Frequency

cowardly

(kaʊəʳdli )

adjective

If you describe someone as cowardly, you disapprove of them because they are easily frightened and avoid doing dangerous and difficult things.

[disapproval]

I was too cowardly to complain.

...a cowardly act of violence.

Synonyms: faint-hearted, scared, spineless, gutless [informal] More Synonyms of cowardly

Video: pronunciation of 'cowardly'

Word Frequency

cowardly in British

(ˈkaʊədlɪ )

adjective

of or characteristic of a coward; lacking courage

Derived forms

cowardliness (ˈcowardliness)

noun

Word Frequency

cowardly in American

(ˈkaʊərdli ; kouˈərdlē)

adjective

of or typical of a coward; shamefully fearful

adverb

in the manner of a coward

SYNONYMY NOTE: cowardly, the general term, suggests a reprehensible lack of courage in the face of danger or pain [a cowardly deserter]; craven implies abject or fainthearted fear [a craven fear for one's life]; pusillanimous implies an ignoble, contemptible lack of courage or endurance [pusillanimous submission]; dastardly connotes a sneaking, malicious cowardice that is manifested in a despicable act [a dastardly informer]

OPPOSITE: brave

Derived forms

cowardliness (ˈcowardliness)

noun

Example sentences containing 'cowardly'

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Our cowardly lion of a bureaucracy throws issue after issue into the long grass when confronted by the mice that roar. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The cowardly way he ended things has robbed any respect I had for him. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The only cowardly thing about him is that he will not tell us if it is winnable. Times, Sunday Times (2009)It was a cowardly attack by a strong man on a distinctly weaker woman. The Sun (2014)Know that they have killed my son in the most cowardly way. Times, Sunday Times (2009)He did not deserve to have it taken from him in a cowardly attack. The Sun (2013)It struck me as a cowardly way to behave. Times, Sunday Times (2012)He offered to replace cash cowardly thugs stole from the 82-year-old. The Sun (2008)Will Eve be able to forgive him or are some acts too cowardly to ignore? The Sun (2014)To denounce or shrug off a call for co-operation is an easy and cowardly thing. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Something has to be done to stop this dreadful, cowardly act. The Sun (2015)Why reject him, in a cowardly way? Times, Sunday Times (2007)For big men, they sure are acting cowardly. The Sun (2015)It's a terribly cowardly thing to do. Times, Sunday Times (2014)A more cowardly attack is barely conceivable. The Sun (2012)I thought it was a dreadfully cowardly thing to do. The Sun (2013)It was a cowardly attack. The Sun (2011)Studies have shown that people who commit such cowardly sickening acts against innocent defenceless animals move on to attack bigger things, such as people. The Sun (2015)What happened here was an unprovoked and cowardly attack,' he said. Times, Sunday Times (2006)Police branded the attack 'disgusting and cowardly'. The Sun (2013)But he added: 'It was a cowardly attack. The Sun (2012)Instead we are forced, through the cowardly acts of our superiors, to hide in shame. Times, Sunday Times (2006)

Trends of 'cowardly'

Used Occasionally. cowardly is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'cowardly'

British English: cowardly /ˈkaʊədlɪ/ ADJECTIVE

Someone who is cowardly is easily frightened and so avoids doing dangerous or difficult things.

I was too cowardly to complain.

American English: cowardly
Arabic: جَبَان
Brazilian Portuguese: covardemente
Chinese: 胆怯的
Croatian: kukavički
Czech: zbabělý
Danish: kujonagtig
Dutch: lafhartig
European Spanish: cobarde
Finnish: pelkurimainen
French: lâche peu courageux
German: feige
Greek: δειλός
Italian: vigliacco
Japanese: 臆病な
Korean: 겁 많은
Norwegian: feig
Polish: tchórzliwy
European Portuguese: covardemente
Romanian: laș
Russian: трусливый
Spanish: cobarde
Swedish: feg
Thai: อย่างขี้ขลาด
Turkish: korkakça
Ukrainian: полохливий
Vietnamese: hèn nhát

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Nearby words of 'cowardly'

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Definition of cowardly from the Collins English Dictionary

Joining clauses

Coordination The process called coordination joins two short clauses of equal importance with a conjunction. Each clause becomes a main clause in the new sentence. Ann went to the bank and withd...