cowed

[ koud ]

adjective

1. frightened by threats, violence, superior strength or ability, etc.; intimidated or overawed:

   No, I’m not worried about going up against the chess champion—what do you take me for, an easily cowed novice?

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of cow ².

Other Words From

• un·cowed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowed¹

First recorded in 1740–50; cow ²( def ) + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective; cow ²( def ) + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb

Example Sentences

He seems to have the temperament not to be cowed, the question will be whether he has the skill, guile and craft to do the job that will be required.

From BBC

Despite being the youngest player to start a competitive match for Scotland since Willie Johnston in 1965, he did not look overawed or cowed.

From BBC

Even after Ben Duckett mangled his thumb and Ollie Pope admirably stepped up to open, only to return to the dressing room two balls later, England were not cowed.

From BBC

Do you believe that Trump knows he was cowed and defeated by Harris in the debate?

From Salon

I actually spent 10 or 15 minutes of my allotted time on this Earth trying to identify “Abdul,” the Taliban leader Trump purportedly cowed into submission with a threatened drone strike.

From Salon

Related Words

• anxious
• apprehensive
• discouraged
• distressed
• fearful
• frightened
• horrified
• intimidated
• nervous
• perplexed
• perturbed
• scared
• shocked
• spooked
• startled
• timid