as in intimidated
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as in bullied
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
a sharp glare cowed the child into being quiet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cowed
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026
On the admin end, colleges have been lately cowed by new regulations at the Department of Education.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
We cannot be cowed into quiescence.
—Brian Kolp, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
School curriculums were sanitized; the press was cowed.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Glaser herself appeared somewhat cowed by her own brazenness — which turned out to be the setup for another bit.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
The senator and Navy veteran isn’t likely to be cowed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s lawless attempt to silence him by seeking to demote him post-retirement.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Musk, who owns X, wants to promote the belief that the truth can be found on social media, and that the practitioners of real journalism are allegedly independent amateurs, such as Shirley, who can ask questions without being cowed by the woke agenda.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
Early Saturday morning, Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello appeared flanked by police, saying the Venezuelan government will not be cowed.
—Carrie Kahn, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
Verb
Bruce Springsteen was standing up to the president, while universities and law firms were being cudgeled and cowed.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026
On the admin end, colleges have been lately cowed by new regulations at the Department of Education.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
We cannot be cowed into quiescence.
—Brian Kolp, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
School curriculums were sanitized; the press was cowed.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Glaser herself appeared somewhat cowed by her own brazenness — which turned out to be the setup for another bit.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
The senator and Navy veteran isn’t likely to be cowed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s lawless attempt to silence him by seeking to demote him post-retirement.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Musk, who owns X, wants to promote the belief that the truth can be found on social media, and that the practitioners of real journalism are allegedly independent amateurs, such as Shirley, who can ask questions without being cowed by the woke agenda.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
Early Saturday morning, Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello appeared flanked by police, saying the Venezuelan government will not be cowed.
—Carrie Kahn, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowed
Adjective
-
These agents monitored and sometimes obstructed care to protesters, intimidated staff, seized protesters and took away the dead in body bags.—
Sarah El Deeb,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The affidavit alleges the group entered the church in a coordinated manner, disrupted the service and intimidated parishioners, forcing it to be cut short.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
We just got bullied to the basket.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
And your husband should not have allowed himself to be bullied by his brother into sending a second present.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Audiences who endured the Miramax era have been browbeaten to believe that the best picture Oscar should go to a period piece that chokes out a sob from audiences.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Not to the extent that the user is necessarily being browbeaten.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Facing cameras and a swath of media in her tiny hometown, Long Rife was not frightened by the prospect of moving cross-country.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
According to Ehrman, Jesus’s teachings universalized earlier Jewish ethics by extending the duty to care for the poor, oppressed, and needy beyond one’s own community to include all people.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Again and again, American planners have assumed that if the right spark is provided, oppressed people will seize the moment and revolt.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Add crushed tomatoes and water.—
Judy Bart Kancigor,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Top with more crushed ice, then drizzle the crème de mûre on top.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Setting expectations for a downtrodden player’s next season isn’t always easy, even when there’s an explanation for the statistical dropoff.—
Al Melchior,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Wonder if there's a former Alabama defensive coach looking to be a coordinator for a downtrodden NFC East franchise.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowed. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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