cowardly, pusillanimous, craven, dastardly mean having or showing a lack of courage. cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.

cowardly adverb old use literary disapproving in a way that shows someone is not at all brave and is too eager to avoid danger, difficulty, or pain:

Definition of cowardly adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Exhibiting the characteristics of a coward, particularly ignoble fear: a cowardly surrender. cow′ard·li·ness n.

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

Definition of cowardly. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.

Cowardly, timid, timorous refer to a lack of courage or self-confidence. Cowardly means weakly or basely fearful in the presence of danger: The cowardly wretch deserted his comrades in battle.

Oct 8, 2025 · cowardly (comparative cowardlier or more cowardly, superlative cowardliest or most cowardly) Showing cowardice; lacking in courage; weakly fearful. synonyms quotations

Use the adjective cowardly to talk about a person whose knees knock together with fear, especially when he or she is afraid of doing the right thing. A famous example of a cowardly …

Jul 26, 2025 · ‘Cowardly’ refers to actions or attitudes that show a lack of bravery or willingness to face danger, pain, or challenges. It often implies an avoidance of responsibility due to fear or …