cower

verb

cow·​er ˈkau̇(-ə)r 

cowered; cowering; cowers

intransitive verb

: to shrink away or crouch especially for shelter from something that menaces, domineers, or dismays

They all cowered silently in their places, seeming to know in advance that some terrible thing was about to happen.

—George Orwell

Synonyms

• cringe
• grovel
• quail

Choose the Right Synonym for cower

fawn, toady, truckle, cringe, cower mean to behave abjectly before a superior.

fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

Examples of cower in a Sentence

They cowered at the sight of the gun.

She was cowering in the closet.

I cowered behind the door.

Recent Examples on the Web

The audience gasped seeing a lion cub cowering inside. —Michael Freeman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025

However, Louisiana and her people will never cower in fear. —NBC News, 4 Jan. 2025

But by the same token, Connelly’s limp, cowering response was a microcosm of years of Democratic failure to meet the moment. —Samantha Riedel, Them, 7 Feb. 2025

Nearly 10 inches fell on parts of the Panhandle on Tuesday, Jan. 21, and rather than cower inside, some saw it as a perfect chance to go all Fast and Furious. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English couren, probably from Middle Low German kūren

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cower

• bower
• dour
• flour
• flower
• fower
• glower
• hour
• our
• power
• scour
• shower
• sour

Kids Definition

cower

verb

cow·​er ˈkau̇(-ə)r 

: to shrink away or crouch down (as from fear)