coward

¹ American  

[kou-erd] / ˈkaʊ ərd /

noun

1. a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.

   Synonyms:

   milksop, recreant, dastard, poltroon, craven

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adjective

1. lacking courage; very fearful or timid.

2. proceeding from or expressive of fear or timidity.

   a coward cry.

Coward ² American  

[kou-erd] / ˈkaʊ ərd /

noun

1. Noel, 1899–1973, English playwright, author, actor, and composer.

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Coward ¹ British  

/ ˈkaʊəd /

noun

1. Sir Noël ( Pierce ). 1899–1973, English dramatist, actor, and composer, noted for his sophisticated comedies, which include Private Lives (1930) and Blithe Spirit (1941)

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coward ² British  

/ ˈkaʊəd /

noun

1. a person who shrinks from or avoids danger, pain, or difficulty

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Etymology

Origin of coward

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French couard-, couart “cowardly,” from coue “tail” (from Latin cauda, cōda ) + -art -ard

Explanation

A coward is someone who’s afraid of doing something daring or dangerous. Skydiving might sound exciting in theory, but you might be a coward when it comes to actually jumping out of a plane. Which is probably wise. Coward comes from the Latin word couda, meaning “tail.” Have you ever seen a scared puppy with its tail between its legs? That’s what people who are cowards would be doing if they had tails. Being afraid of something dangerous might make someone a coward, but the word can also describe someone who avoids doing something difficult or unpleasant. If your boss makes his assistant deliver the unpleasant news about layoffs, you might call him a coward.

Example Sentences

The Australian leader's comments were condemned, however, by the outspoken activist Grace Tame who labelled them a "patronising cop out from a total coward".

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

He called Jamieson "a coward" who was "consumed by self-pity".

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

I am thankful for all the arcane references to pop culture I have at my disposal to frame the workings of a true coward like Hegseth.

From Salon • Nov. 28, 2025

Mr. Cruz nailed the point when he said Friday that “if you say nothing when someone tells you that Adolf Hitler was cool, you are a coward and complicit in evil.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

“While your own husband lives the shivering life of a coward in the forest of Ohafia so that the soldiers will not see him.”

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

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