cowered
Crouched in terror
Cowered is the past tense of cower, meaning to crouch or shrink back in fear.
Someone who cowered drew themselves smaller, retreating from a threat or intimidating presence: The dog cowered in the corner during the thunderstorm.
Villagers cowered as soldiers marched through.
The word suggests visible, physical submission to fear.
Repeatedly mistreated by aggressors
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- menacedThreatened with harm
- terrorizedFrightened through threats
- oppressedTreated with cruel control
harassed · browbeaten · daunted · dominated · coerced · overpowered · subjugated · cringed
Shook involuntarily
- quakedTrembled or shook
- shrankBecame smaller, past tense
- flinchedRecoiled involuntarily from threat
- recoiledShrank back suddenly
quivered · shuddered · winced · blanched · froze · panicked · dreaded · terrified
Crowded closely together
- curled upBody folded compactly
- hidKept out of sight
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- shelteredKept safe from harm
took cover · ducked · retreated · withdrew · tucked away · nested · burrowed · secreted
Bent knees, lowered body
- groveledShowed servile humility
- kneltWent to ground respectfully
- bowedCurved or bent over
- prostratedLying flat in defeat
stooped · hunched · yielded · capitulated · surrendered · meek · obedient · docile
bullied
Repeatedly mistreated by aggressors
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- menacedThreatened with harm
- terrorizedFrightened through threats
oppressed · harassed · browbeaten · daunted · dominated · coerced · overpowered · subjugated · cringed · retreated
trembled
Shook involuntarily
recoiled · quivered · shuddered · winced · blanched · froze · panicked · dreaded · terrified · frightened
huddled
Crowded closely together
sheltered · took cover · ducked · retreated · withdrew · tucked away · nested · burrowed · secreted
crouched
Bent knees, lowered body
prostrated · stooped · hunched · yielded · capitulated · surrendered · meek · obedient · docile · compliant
shy
Reserved and retiring
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- timorousShowing nervous apprehension
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
mousy · hesitant · shrinking · tentative · diffident · withdrawn · fearful · apprehensive · skittish · gun-shy
- surrenderedsurrendered, capitulated, yielded, conceded, submitted
- grovelingfawned, kowtowed, prostrated, bootlicked, toadied
coweredfaced
Met without flinching
defied · confronted · braved · challenged · resisted