cower

verb

ˈkau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce cower (audio)
Definition of cowernext
as in to cringe
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission the abused dog always cowered in the presence of its master

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cower distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cower are cringe, fawn, toady, and truckle. While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

When might cringe be a better fit than cower?

The synonyms cringe and cower are sometimes interchangeable, but cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

When could fawn be used to replace cower?

While in some cases nearly identical to cower, fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

In what contexts can toady take the place of cower?

In some situations, the words toady and cower are roughly equivalent. However, toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

When is truckle a more appropriate choice than cower?

Although the words truckle and cower have much in common, truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cower Don’t cower to the bullies who want to make everything a tale of oppression — even a fun ad campaign for jeans. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 Aug. 2025 The small Rego Park home was crowded with canines cowering in every corner, even in closets and kitchen cupboards, ACC said. —Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025 Today’s Republican Party is a bunch of weak, spineless cowards who cower in obedient terror at Trump’s feet. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025 Talley said Trembley approached Zuniga Castro with a gun to try to cower him into submission, but Zuniga Castro felt threatened and acted in self-defense. —City News Service, Oc Register, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cower
  1. cringe
  2. flinch
Verb
  • It's not cringe to care about something and try!
    — Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Pub purists, meanwhile, are cringing.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Definition of cringe
Verb
  • The last time Congress faced a deadline to extend government funding, Senate Democrats flinched, giving Republicans the votes needed to avert a government shutdown without extracting any concessions.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Share relevant proof that mirrors their situation, name your price without flinching, and close with one clear question.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Definition of flinch

Browse Nearby Words

cowed
cower
cowered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cower. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on cower

Nglish: Translation of cower for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

A Guide to Using Semicolons

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'
See More

Popular

See More

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Our Best Historical Slang Terms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
high school student holding a pencil leaning over a sat test
Challenging Standardized Test Words 20 questions to help you score 1600
See All