Definition of 'cowardly'
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.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'cowardly'
adverb
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]2.
in the manner of a coward
OPPOSITE: brave
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
noun
Example sentences containing 'cowardly'
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
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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
Nearby words of 'cowardly'
Source
Definition of cowardly from the
Collins English Dictionary
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