Dictionary
1cowardly
adverb cow·ard·ly \-lē\
Definition of COWARDLY
: in a cowardly manner
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First Known Use of COWARDLY
14th century
2cowardly
adjective
: afraid in a way that makes you unable to do what is right or expected : lacking courage
Full Definition of COWARDLY
: being, resembling, or befitting a coward <a cowardly retreat>
— cow·ard·li·ness noun
See cowardly defined for English-language learners
See cowardly defined for kids
First Known Use of COWARDLY
1551
Related to COWARDLY
- Synonyms
- chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow
- Antonyms
- brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous
Synonym Discussion of COWARDLY
cowardly, pusillanimous, craven, dastardly mean having or showing a lack of courage. cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage <a cowardly failure to stand up for principle>. pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage <the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility>. craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance <secretly despised her own craven yes-men>. dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous <a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians>.
COWARDLINESS Defined for Kids
cowardly
adjective cow·ard·ly \ˈkau̇-ərd-lē\
Definition of COWARDLY for Kids
1
: shamefully fearful <a cowardly traitor>
2
: showing shameful fear <Then he … said how hard-hearted and cowardly it was to hurt the weak … — Anna Sewell, Black Beauty>
— cow·ard·li·ness noun
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