coward Definition
a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person..
Using coward: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "coward" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He was called a coward for not standing up to the bully.
Example
She felt like a coward for not speaking up during the meeting.
Example
The soldier was awarded a medal for bravery, while his cowardly comrade was dishonorably discharged.
Example
Don't be such a coward and face your fears!
coward Synonyms and Antonyms
Antonyms for coward
- brave
- courageous
- heroic
Idioms Using coward
scare/frighten the coward out of someone
to terrify someone to the point where they lose their fear and become brave
Example
The near-death experience scared the coward out of him, and he became a fearless adventurer.
make a coward of someone
to cause someone to become fearful or timid
Example
The constant bullying made a coward of him, and he was afraid to stand up for himself.
fight like a coward
to fight in a dishonorable or underhanded way, often by attacking someone who is weaker or defenseless
Example
He fought like a coward, hitting his opponent when he wasn't looking.
Phrases with coward
die a coward's death
to die in a way that is considered shameful or dishonorable, often by running away from danger or failing to fight back
Example
He refused to fight and died a coward's death.
coward at heart
someone who is inherently fearful or timid, regardless of their outward behavior
Example
Despite his tough exterior, he was a coward at heart.
cowardly lion
a character in The Wizard of Oz who is initially portrayed as a coward but ultimately finds courage
Example
The Cowardly Lion was one of the beloved characters in The Wizard of Oz.
Origins of coward
from Old French 'coart', meaning 'tail' or 'rump'
Summary: coward in Brief
A 'coward' [ˈkaʊərd] is someone who lacks courage in the face of danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc. It is often used as an insult, as in 'He was called a coward for not standing up to the bully.' The term can also be used in idioms like 'scare/frighten the coward out of someone,' meaning to terrify someone to the point where they lose their fear and become brave.
