Comprehensive
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
     

cow·ard

coward

 
 
pronunciation:
kaU rd
parts of speech:
noun, adjective
features:
Word Combinations (noun), Word History, Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition: a person who lacks the courage to face danger, pain, or difficulty; a person easily discouraged or intimidated by fear.
He admitted that he had been a coward in not standing up for what he believed.Those men who refused to serve in the army were branded cowards.
synonyms:
chicken, craven, recreant, sissy
antonyms:
hero, heroine
similar words:
dastard, jellyfish, milksop, niddering, pantywaist, poltroon, weakling
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: adjective
definition: produced by or resulting from fearfulness; cowardly.
his coward retreat
synonyms:
cowardly, fearful, timid, timorous
similar words:
fainthearted, pusillanimous, weak
Word History
Coward is from an early French word that means "tail." Today we say that a frightened animal or person may "turn tail" and run.
Word Explorer
See
  fear