Find Synonyms

cowardly Synonyms

Another word for cowardly

Choosing another word for cowardly depends on context, so the 17 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Lacking courage or resolution; shameful and timid in the face of danger, difficulty, or opposition.

Usage Example

"Abandoning his colleagues during the crisis was widely condemned as a craven decision."

Strongest
craven
pusillanimous
spineless
Strong
gutless
faint-hearted
chicken-hearted
lily-livered
yellow-bellied
timorous
timid

• adverb (Context 2)

In a manner that shows a shameful lack of courage.

Usage Example

"The official behaved cravenly by refusing to face the residents affected by the policy."

Strongest
cravenly
pusillanimously
Strong
spinelessly
faint-heartedly
timorously
timidly
fearfully

Opposites of cowardly

The opposite of cowardly shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

courageous
bravely
brave
courageously
fearless
fearlessly
heroically
heroic
See all opposites of cowardly

• Nearby Words

coward
cowardice
cowardliness
cowardly
cowberry
cowbird
cowboy

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Cowardly. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/cowardly
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