# cowardly

/ˈkaʊɝdɫi/ (US) · /kˈaʊədli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cowardly
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. lacking courage

adjective · CEFR B1

lacking courage or being easily made afraid, especially when you should be brave.

For teachers: demonstrating a lack of courage or resolution when faced with danger, pain, or difficulty.

- It was a cowardly act to run away and leave his friends behind.
- The anonymous letters were widely condemned as a cowardly attempt to undermine the minister's reputation without facing public scrutiny.

Usage: Primarily used as an attributive adjective before a noun or after a linking verb.

Teaching tip: Learners often mistake this for an adverb because of the -ly suffix; remind them it functions like 'friendly' or 'lovely'.

### 2. in a fearful manner

adverb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

doing something in a way that shows you are afraid.

For teachers: in the manner of a coward; exhibiting cowardice through one's actions.

- The knight behaved cowardly and hid while the battle began.
- He lived cowardly, ever fearful that his past indiscretions would eventually come to light.

Usage: This adverbial use is rare in modern English; 'cowardlily' exists but is also largely obsolete.

Teaching tip: This sense is found in period literature; advise students to use 'in a cowardly manner' for modern contexts.

## Examples

- The cowardly dog hid under the bed.
- He made a cowardly decision to leave the party early instead of facing his boss.
- The general was criticized for his cowardly retreat, which allowed the enemy forces to advance unchecked and seize the strategic high ground.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.