cower

[kou-er]

verb (used without object)

1. to crouch, as in fear or shame.

   Synonyms: quail, flinch, recoil, cringe

cower

/ ˈkaʊə /

verb

1. (intr) to crouch or cringe, as in fear

Other Word Forms

• coweringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cower¹

1250–1300; Middle English couren; cognate with Norwegian, Swedish kūra, Middle Low German kūren, German kauern

Word History and Origins

Origin of cower¹

C13: from Middle Low German kūren to lie in wait; related to Swedish kura to lie in wait, Danish kure to squat

Example Sentences

He lay down and he cowered before the robot.

Read more on Literature

Another clip showed his clerk—a relative—cowering behind the counter as gunfire erupted outside.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Other victims, cowering in terror, are shot in the legs or beaten with heavy clubs.

Read more on BBC

Newsrooms, tech companies and TV networks cower before a president bringing his critics to heel with threats of flimsy lawsuits.

Read more on Salon

"For Charlie, we will never shrink, we will never cower, and we will never falter, even when we are staring down the barrel of a gun."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cringe 
• crouch 
• flinch 
• recoil 
• skulk 
• tremble 
• wince