cowardly
cowardly Lexical Profile
cowardly Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Lacking courage or resolution; shameful and timid in the face of danger, difficulty, or opposition.
"Abandoning his colleagues during the crisis was widely condemned as a cowardly decision."
• adverb
In a manner that shows a shameful lack of courage.
"The official behaved cowardly by refusing to face the residents affected by the policy."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although ending in '-ly', 'cowardly' is primarily an adjective (as in 'a cowardly act'); in formal writing, the adverbial phrase 'in a cowardly manner' is generally preferred over using 'cowardly' as a direct adverb.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English from 'coward', which derives from Old French 'coart', ultimately from Latin 'cauda' (meaning 'tail'), evoking an animal turning tail or tucking its tail between its legs in fear.