cowardly
adverb
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Definition of cowardly
(Entry 1 of 2)
cowardly
adjectiveDefinition of cowardly (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms & Antonyms for cowardly
Synonyms: Adjective
chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow
Antonyms: Adjective
brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous
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Examples of cowardly in a Sentence
Adjective
He insisted on avoiding a cowardly retreat. She made a cowardly decision to go along with the group. a cowardly attack from behind
Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb
Ross plays Justin's and Bryce's friend, Zach, who's cowardly but kind-hearted. — Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "This is How Much the Cast of "13 Reasons Why" Makes," 2 Aug. 2019 Mnangagwa later visited the vice presidents and declared the ‘‘cowardly act’’ will not disrupt next month’s historic elections. — Hadra Ahmed, BostonGlobe.com, "Explosions hit rallies for leaders of Ethiopia, Zimbabwe," 23 June 2018 Likewise, the show's pirates are lovable rogues, at once endearing and threatening, bloodthirsty and cowardly. — Jack Helbig, Chicago Reader, "After 139 years, Pirates of Penzance is still a satisfying combination of sweet and salty," 27 June 2018 And also brand-new tonight, the acting director of ICE is fiercely responding to Nancy Pelosi who called federal immigration authorities cowardly. — Fox News, "Hannity: McCabe is as corrupt and crooked as they come," 14 Mar. 2018 And in Greek mythology, the use of poison as a weapon of war was often considered cowardly, a tricky technique used by those who were not heroes. — Lily Rothman, Time, "A Long, Brutal History of Chemical Weapons Lies Behind Trump's Decision to Order Airstrikes in Syria," 13 Apr. 2018 Less obvious but far more pervasive harm has been caused by those who fear being judged cowardly and so behave recklessly. — Alex Kingsbury, BostonGlobe.com, "The lesson of the ‘Broward Coward’," 23 Feb. 2018 Richard Spencer, for example, has been unable to find an attorney to represent him in Virginia due to many attorneys being cowardly in defending controversial people. — Robert Allen, Detroit Free Press, "Alt-right attorney defends racism, homophobia, Richard Spencer," 1 Mar. 2018 While political neutrality was for years seen as safe and balanced, today it can just as easily be interpreted as uninspired, tired, and cowardly. — Patricia Nakache, Fortune, "Commentary: Dick's Is Showing Us Why Companies Can't Afford to Be Cowards Anymore," 1 Mar. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Specifically, those who have ripped his choice as (1) cowardly (2) disloyal or (3) messing with their right to be entertained. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc's Morning Line: Andrew Luck made a lifestyle choice. Respect it, football fans.," 28 Aug. 2019 Racists tend to be cowardly like that, happy to spout hateful rhetoric but unwilling to admit they flat-out hate — or fear — people different from them. — Rex Huppke, chicagotribune.com, "Column: There’s no difference between supporting a racist and being one," 18 July 2019 This kind of cowardly attack has no place in our country. — Dallas News, "Ted Cruz demands federal inquiry of Portland mayor after Antifa attack on conservative journalist," 1 July 2019 Their passion is for the spontaneous or cowardly or unexamined deed, and its consequences. — The New York Review of Books, "Christine Smallwood," 10 May 2012 His cowardly specialty was picking off the old, weak and infirm stragglers at the back of the Exodus pack. — Lou Weiss, WSJ, "Amalek Comes to Pittsburgh," 28 Oct. 2018 As my family stated, these types of cowardly attacks are happening to my sisters, brothers and non-gender conforming siblings daily. — Vogue, "Jussie Smollett Speaks Out About Racist, Homophobic Attack," 1 Feb. 2019 And the legislative branch of government is either too cowardly or too bought off to do anything about this — which is probably exactly what President Trump expected would happen. — Will Bunch, Philly.com, "What's a guy gotta do to get impeached in Trump's out-of-control America? | Will Bunch," 10 Apr. 2018 That’s what’s so cowardly and dishonest about its approach. — Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, "Trump's DOJ labels the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, placing healthcare for 133 million at risk," 8 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cowardly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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