Meaning & use

cower

verb·Academic

To crouch down or shrink back in fear, especially to avoid something threatening.

See it in a sentence

The puppy cowered under the table whenever thunder rumbled outside.

Villagers cowered in their cellars as the bombing continued through the night.

A note on using this word

Cower emphasizes a visible physical posture of fear, such as crouching or shrinking, rather than just feeling afraid internally.

Words with a similar meaning

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