as in craven
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger
the soldiers who ran as soon as the first shots were fired were branded as cowards
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as in cowardly
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of coward
Lincee Ray, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) Bob Hope didn’t so much play characters as variations on the Bob Hope persona, a wisecracking coward with a tendency to get in way over his head then make matters worse for himself.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Numerous water bottles flew down toward the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. from the right-field corner stands, the gutless moves of many cowards.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024
Don't stand there like a coward, come here and say it.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coward 
Noun
William quickly places Ian under arrest for assaulting an officer, as Rachel calls him a coward.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) Bob Hope didn’t so much play characters as variations on the Bob Hope persona, a wisecracking coward with a tendency to get in way over his head then make matters worse for himself.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Numerous water bottles flew down toward the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. from the right-field corner stands, the gutless moves of many cowards.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024
Don't stand there like a coward, come here and say it.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coward
Adjective
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May God comfort the families of the victims, heal the injured and protect humanity from those who dare to commit such cowardly acts of mass violence.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Jan. 2025
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Taka, the more cowardly lion, will eventually earn a name that isn’t going to surprise anybody.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Developing a way to detect H5N1 in these conditions required specific strategies for each species, says Rhys. To evaluate pathogens that affect chickens, which relieve themselves everywhere in the barn, the farmers wear booties that end up getting covered in the animals’ waste.—
Alice Park,
TIME,
4 Feb. 2025
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Staff will serve a variety of sake, udon, yakitori (skewered chicken) and other beverages and plates.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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And the really jaw-dropping part of AMLO’s gutless abdication?—
Tim Padgett,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Aug. 2024
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Two baseballs flew down toward the San Diego Padres’ Jurickson Profar from the left-field corner stands, the gutless moves of two cowards.—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Mark Kelly Americans who are rightfully appalled by the pusillanimous response to anti-Semitism on college campuses have been pulling their donations and calling for restrictions on anti-Israel student groups.—
Arthur Levitt,
WSJ,
12 Nov. 2023
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Those clumsy tales revealed Chazelle’s pusillanimous career ambitions.—
Armond White,
National Review,
13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Trump has already turned a national tragedy into a craven, baseless political attack by blaming DEI programs at the FAA and past administrations.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
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Between the lines: One view is that these actions are simply craven pandering.—
Felix Salmon,
Axios,
13 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near coward
Cite this Entry
“Coward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coward. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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