cowed
Afraid to resist
Cowed describes someone who has been intimidated into submission or silence.
The word comes from cow as a verb meaning to frighten or subdue through threats or force.
A cowed employee avoids speaking up after being berated.
The witnesses stood cowed before the judge.
The state implies fear has broken someone's will to resist.
Subdued by persistent pressure
- bulliedRepeatedly mistreated by aggressors
- dominatedControlled or overpowered
- menacedThreatened with harm
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
coerced · pressured · overpowered · subjugated · suppressed · overborne · harassed · oppressed
Humbly unassertive
- docileEasily controlled or taught
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- subduedReduced in intensity
- yieldingBending under pressure
acquiescent · servile · subservient · deferential · obedient · biddable · tame · passive
Experiencing sudden fear
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
- scaredFeeling fear or alarm
- spookedFrightened into alertness
- alarmedFeeling sudden fear
petrified · shaken · trembling · quaking · quailing · flinching · shrinking · cringing
Having lost heart
- disheartenedLost confidence or hope
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- crushedCompressed into fragments
- deflatedEmptied of pressure
despondent · dejected · crestfallen · downcast · desolate · resigned · hopeless · beaten
Showing nervous apprehension
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- sheepishEmbarrassed and timid
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
- hesitantSlow to act
apprehensive · nervous · mousy · spiritless · gutless · spineless · wary · tentative
browbeaten
Subdued by persistent pressure
- bulliedRepeatedly mistreated by aggressors
- dominatedControlled or overpowered
- menacedThreatened with harm
threatened · coerced · pressured · overpowered · subjugated · suppressed · overborne · harassed · oppressed · tyrannized
meek
Humbly unassertive
yielding · acquiescent · servile · subservient · deferential · obedient · biddable · tame · passive · groveling
frightened
Experiencing sudden fear
alarmed · petrified · shaken · trembling · quaking · quailing · flinching · shrinking · cringing · panicked
dispirited
Having lost heart
- disheartenedLost confidence or hope
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- crushedCompressed into fragments
deflated · despondent · dejected · crestfallen · downcast · desolate · resigned · hopeless · beaten · vanquished
timorous
Showing nervous apprehension
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- sheepishEmbarrassed and timid
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
hesitant · apprehensive · nervous · mousy · spiritless · gutless · spineless · wary · tentative · uncertain
- submissivesubmissive, subservient, obedient, servile, docile
- pushoverspushover, doormat, wimp, weakling, milquetoast
- restrainedrestrained, reserved, subdued, controlled, muted
cowedemboldened
Made more courageous
undaunted · unintimidated · defiant · unbowed · inspirited
coweddefiant
Openly resisting control
unsubmissive · rebellious · resistant · assertive · unyielding
cowedinspirited
Given renewed courage
emboldened · heartened · encouraged · undismayed · unbroken
- holy cowExpression of amazement
- cash cowDependable income source
- cow chipDried cattle feces
- cow's milkLacteal fluid from cattle
- cow townRural livestock community
- have a cowOverreact dramatically to something