coward

¹

[ kou-erd ]

noun

1. a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.

   Synonyms: milksop, recreant, dastard, poltroon, craven

adjective

1. lacking courage; very fearful or timid.
2. proceeding from or expressive of fear or timidity:

   a coward cry.

Coward

²

[ kou-erd ]

noun

1. Noel, 1899–1973, English playwright, author, actor, and composer.

Coward

¹

/ ˈkaʊəd /

noun

1. CowardSir Noël (Pierce)18991973MEnglishTHEATRE: dramatistTHEATRE: actorMUSIC: composer Sir Noël ( Pierce ). 1899–1973, English dramatist, actor, and composer, noted for his sophisticated comedies, which include Private Lives (1930) and Blithe Spirit (1941)

coward

²

/ ˈkaʊəd /

noun

1. a person who shrinks from or avoids danger, pain, or difficulty

Word History and Origins

Origin of coward¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French couard-, couart “cowardly,” from coue “tail” (from Latin cauda, cōda ) + -art -ard

Word History and Origins

Origin of coward¹

C13: from Old French cuard, from coue tail, from Latin cauda; perhaps suggestive of a frightened animal with its tail between its legs

Example Sentences

Bezos is not only a coward, but he’s extremely arrogant to think he knows how every undecided voter comes by their decision to cast their vote for a particular candidate.

From Salon

“He’s a coward,” I heard from more than one person.

From Salon

So while Trump is a coward to avoid another debate with Harris, it does make strategic sense.

From Salon

“If you remember the first debate, he would not even look at her once. He never even glanced at her because he is a coward,” he said.

From Salon

"The one thing that boiled me up properly was Haaland's coward's move," Wright said in a video on Instagram.

From BBC

Related Words

• wimp