Synonyms for

Coward

Verb / ˈkaʊɜ:d / Another word for coward — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

A person who lacks courage in facing danger or pain.

Synonyms & similar words

sirnoelpiercecoward coward noelcoward chicken wimp yellow-belly scaredy-cat sissy fraidy-cat milksop poltroon craven weakling pusillanimous timid fearful spineless gutless lily-livered yellow afraid shy timorous

Synonyms by register

Formal

pusillanimous craven timorous

Informal

chicken scaredy-cat yellow-belly wimp

Literary

lily-livered dastard

Antonyms

brave hero valiant courageous bold fearless intrepid

Common collocations

  • complete coward
  • utter coward
  • moral coward
  • yellow coward
  • die a coward
  • accused of being a coward
  • no coward

Word family

noun cowardice
adjective cowardly

Usage note

Coward is a strong and generally negative term. 'Cowardice' is the noun form, and 'cowardly' is the adjective.

Example sentences

  1. The cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz was afraid of everything.
  2. When the bully confronted him, he acted like a coward and ran away.
  3. He called me a coward for not wanting to jump off the high diving board.
  4. The soldier was not a coward for not wanting to go to war.
  5. Being brave doesn't mean you're never afraid, it means facing your fears even when you are.

Quotes

  • 'Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.' - William Shakespeare
  • 'The coward only threatens when he is safe.' - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  • 'The coward calls the brave man rash, the rash man calls him a coward.' - Aristotle

Try these popular words

the and that for you with was this are have not from

Practice

Play the Word Synonyms game · Choose level (start near 1)

Worksheets

Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6

Topics

Guides

Explore more words