Coward
/ˈkaʊərd/noun
A person who is too afraid to do something.
He was a coward for not standing up to the bullies
Often appears as...
- die a coward
- brand someone a coward
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing a lack of courage.
He took a coward approach by avoiding the confrontation
Often appears as...
- coward decision
- coward action
Usage tips
Disapproving
General, Academic
noun
A person who is too afraid to do something.
He was a coward for not standing up to the bullies
Often appears as...
- die a coward
- brand someone a coward
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing a lack of courage.
He took a coward approach by avoiding the confrontation
Often appears as...
- coward decision
- coward action
Usage tips
Disapproving
General, Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'coward' often carries a judgmental tone, criticizing someone's lack of bravery.
His friends called him a coward for not joining the dare.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Being labeled a 'coward' can be hurtful and provoke a strong emotional response.
After being called a coward, Maria felt humiliated.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Sometimes, 'coward' can be used to advise caution, suggesting being brave isn't always smart.
Better to be a coward at sea than a captain of a sunken ship.
Compare with
chickencravenfearfulmilksopnervoustimidweaklingwimp
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Video examples
Alone Across the Outback...
if they are marrying the wrong person, they have an abusive boss, they are doing, they are taking drugs, whatever it is, you hit them over the head with a two-by-four. You risk your friendship to be a friend and maybe you lose them as friends." But, she said, "You are all cowards. Like you won't actually be friends to each other because you are afraid you'll lose the friendship." And I
Video examples
Boniface Mwangi: The day...
but the country never spoke about it. We pretended. We all became smart cowards. We decided to stay out of trouble and not talk about it. Ten months later, I quit my job. I said I could not stand it anymore. After quitting my job, I decided to organize my friends to speak about the violence in the country, to speak about the state of the nation,
Video examples
Learning to make sand...
water is not connecting those grains of sand is a place where it can fall apart so it's important to have it mixed well so the easiest way to do this when you're doing it by hand just actually pull the sand up from underneath the water either in a hole or in a bucket and what you have is sort of a mud pie and the way that you make cowards and
Video examples
Bats Come Up With An...
what i just thought of another film idea i am trying to sleep small town hurricane young girl caught in a storm there's a frightening man a coward maybe a bloke without a hat surely he'd be dead no no not no like unable to love that kind of no art anyway they set off on a journey they're looking for treasure no no that's too obvious in it
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
the local people have superstitions and taboos connected with nearly all their animals and they have them about even such an inoffensive little beast as this many men particularly if they reckon themselves to be brave and strong are unwilling to touch them the tenrec they regard as a cowardly creature
Video examples
New bionics let us run,...
Bionics is not only about making people stronger and faster. Our expression, our humanity can be embedded into electromechanics. It was 3.5 seconds between the bomb blasts in the Boston terrorist attack. In 3.5 seconds, the criminals and cowards took Adrianne off the dance floor.
Video examples
Military robots and the...
who are cowards because they send out machines to fight us. They don't want to fight us like real men, but they're afraid to fight, so we just have to kill a few of their soldiers to defeat them." The future of war also is featuring a new type of warrior,
Video examples
Insults by Shakespeare
Both families hate each other, and this is just adding fuel to the fire. But just how bad is this stinger? A heartless hind is a coward, and calling someone that in front of his own men, and the rival family, means there's going to be a fight.
Video examples
Amanda Bennett: We need...
as if courageous, as it becomes you who were worthy of such a city, approach the window with a firm step, and with emotion, but not with the entreaties or the complaints of a coward, as a last enjoyment,
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
The bards sang of the brave deeds of their ancestors and praised the accomplishments of warrior kings— and composed biting satires about cowardly or selfish leaders.
Video examples
Alone Across the Outback...
if they are marrying the wrong person, they have an abusive boss, they are doing, they are taking drugs, whatever it is, you hit them over the head with a two-by-four. You risk your friendship to be a friend and maybe you lose them as friends." But, she said, "You are all cowards. Like you won't actually be friends to each other because you are afraid you'll lose the friendship." And I
Video examples
Boniface Mwangi: The day...
but the country never spoke about it. We pretended. We all became smart cowards. We decided to stay out of trouble and not talk about it. Ten months later, I quit my job. I said I could not stand it anymore. After quitting my job, I decided to organize my friends to speak about the violence in the country, to speak about the state of the nation,
Video examples
Learning to make sand...
water is not connecting those grains of sand is a place where it can fall apart so it's important to have it mixed well so the easiest way to do this when you're doing it by hand just actually pull the sand up from underneath the water either in a hole or in a bucket and what you have is sort of a mud pie and the way that you make cowards and
Video examples
Bats Come Up With An...
what i just thought of another film idea i am trying to sleep small town hurricane young girl caught in a storm there's a frightening man a coward maybe a bloke without a hat surely he'd be dead no no not no like unable to love that kind of no art anyway they set off on a journey they're looking for treasure no no that's too obvious in it
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
the local people have superstitions and taboos connected with nearly all their animals and they have them about even such an inoffensive little beast as this many men particularly if they reckon themselves to be brave and strong are unwilling to touch them the tenrec they regard as a cowardly creature
Video examples
New bionics let us run,...
Bionics is not only about making people stronger and faster. Our expression, our humanity can be embedded into electromechanics. It was 3.5 seconds between the bomb blasts in the Boston terrorist attack. In 3.5 seconds, the criminals and cowards took Adrianne off the dance floor.
Video examples
Military robots and the...
who are cowards because they send out machines to fight us. They don't want to fight us like real men, but they're afraid to fight, so we just have to kill a few of their soldiers to defeat them." The future of war also is featuring a new type of warrior,
Video examples
Insults by Shakespeare
Both families hate each other, and this is just adding fuel to the fire. But just how bad is this stinger? A heartless hind is a coward, and calling someone that in front of his own men, and the rival family, means there's going to be a fight.
Video examples
Amanda Bennett: We need...
as if courageous, as it becomes you who were worthy of such a city, approach the window with a firm step, and with emotion, but not with the entreaties or the complaints of a coward, as a last enjoyment,
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
The bards sang of the brave deeds of their ancestors and praised the accomplishments of warrior kings— and composed biting satires about cowardly or selfish leaders.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Shakira
Musician
I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. But I'm not capable, I'm too cowardly for that.
Quote examples
Edgar Allan Poe
American Poet
That man is not truly brave who is afraid either to seem or to be, when it suits him, a coward.
Quote examples
Salman Rushdie
Indian Novelist
When people do the cowardly thing, it's not about respect, it's about fear.
Quote examples
David Mamet
American Dramatist
I'm afraid of only two things: being lazy and being cowardly.
Quote examples
Thomas Mann
German Writer
War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.
Quote examples
Chief Joseph
Leader
An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
Quote examples
Horace Smith
English Poet
Courage is the fear of being thought a coward.
Quote examples
Seth Rogen
Canadian Actor
I'm a complete coward in real life.
Quote examples
Robert Louis Stevenson
Scottish Writer
The world has no room for cowards.
Quote examples
Thomas Fuller
English Clergyman
Despair gives courage to a coward.
Quote examples
Shakira
Musician
I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. But I'm not capable, I'm too cowardly for that.
Quote examples
Edgar Allan Poe
American Poet
That man is not truly brave who is afraid either to seem or to be, when it suits him, a coward.
Quote examples
Salman Rushdie
Indian Novelist
When people do the cowardly thing, it's not about respect, it's about fear.
Quote examples
David Mamet
American Dramatist
I'm afraid of only two things: being lazy and being cowardly.
Quote examples
Thomas Mann
German Writer
War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.
Quote examples
Chief Joseph
Leader
An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
Quote examples
Horace Smith
English Poet
Courage is the fear of being thought a coward.
Quote examples
Seth Rogen
Canadian Actor
I'm a complete coward in real life.
Quote examples
Robert Louis Stevenson
Scottish Writer
The world has no room for cowards.
Quote examples
Thomas Fuller
English Clergyman
Despair gives courage to a coward.
Example 1 of 10
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