cowards
Those who flee
Cowards is the plural of coward—people who lack courage or avoid danger through fear.
The word carries moral judgment: cowards don't just feel afraid (everyone does) but let fear govern their actions when bravery is called for.
The cowards fled while others stood their ground.
History is written by the victors, not the cowards.
Lacking courage or resolve
- gutlessLacking bravery or nerve
- lily-liveredWeak and easily frightened
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- chicken-heartedLacking bravery or nerve
yellow-bellied · white-livered · pusillanimous · dastardly · unheroic · cringing · cowering · sniveling
Contemptibly lacking nerve
- poltroonAbject coward
- milksopFeeble, unassertive person
- recreantDisloyal coward
- dastardContemptible coward
yellow-belly · chicken · wimp · sissy · jellyfish · quitter · defeatist · pushover
Emotional response to threat
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
anxiety · apprehension · cold feet · jitters · nerves · fright · alarm · timidity
Rapid escape from danger
- retreatingMoving back from advance
- hidingStaying out of sight
- desertingAbandoning one's obligations
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
capitulating · backing down · running away · abandoning · betraying · shirking · dodging · evading
spineless
Lacking courage or resolve
- gutlessLacking bravery or nerve
- lily-liveredWeak and easily frightened
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
chicken-hearted · yellow-bellied · white-livered · pusillanimous · dastardly · unheroic · cringing · cowering · sniveling · whimpering
craven
Contemptibly lacking nerve
dastard · yellow-belly · chicken · wimp · sissy · jellyfish · quitter · defeatist · pushover · weakling
fear
Emotional response to threat
trepidation · anxiety · apprehension · cold feet · jitters · nerves · fright · alarm · timidity · funk
fleeing
Rapid escape from danger
- retreatingMoving back from advance
- hidingStaying out of sight
- desertingAbandoning one's obligations
surrendering · capitulating · backing down · running away · abandoning · betraying · shirking · dodging · evading · ducking
brave
Showing courage despite fear
- courageousShowing bravery under threat
- heroicExceptionally brave and noble
- valiantCourageously determined
gallant · bold · daring · fearless · intrepid · audacious · valorous · undaunted · stouthearted · lionhearted
- cybercriminalshacker, hackers, scammer, scammers, phishers
- sycophantssycophant, sycophants, toady, toadies, bootlicker
- negativistspessimists, defeatists, doomers, doomsayers, negative Nellies
cowardsheroes
Admired courageous figures
braves · champions · warriors · daredevils · adventurers
- Cowardly LionTimorous big cat seeking bravery