cowerer
One who shrinks
One who cowers—who shrinks back or crouches in fear.
The word appears rarely, since English usually prefers verbal forms: She cowered in the corner rather than She was a cowerer.
When it does appear, it typically characterizes someone as habitually timid or submissive.
Involuntary retreat from threat
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
- recoilBackward force from discharge
- shrinkDecrease in size
- cringeShrink from discomfort
quail · shudder · blench · startle · flinching · shrinking · withdrawing · pulling back
Humbly unassertive
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- docileEasily controlled or taught
deferential · obsequious · groveling · cringing · kowtowing · bowing · prostrating · yielding
Full of fright
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
- frightenedExperiencing sudden fear
- scaredFeeling fear or alarm
- petrifiedSolidified or fear-paralyzed
anxious · alarmed · apprehensive · panic-stricken · horror-struck · timorous · nervous · jittery
Animal being hunted
- targetObject of pursuit
- victimOne harmed by another
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
weakling · pushover · vulnerable · helpless · defenseless · cornered · overpowered · overwhelmed
flinch
Involuntary retreat from threat
cringe · quail · shudder · blench · startle · flinching · shrinking · withdrawing · pulling back · drawing back
meek
Humbly unassertive
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
docile · deferential · obsequious · groveling · cringing · kowtowing · bowing · prostrating · yielding · capitulating
fearful
Full of fright
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
- frightenedExperiencing sudden fear
- scaredFeeling fear or alarm
petrified · anxious · alarmed · apprehensive · panic-stricken · horror-struck · timorous · nervous · jittery · spooked
prey
Animal being hunted
underdog · weakling · pushover · vulnerable · helpless · defenseless · cornered · overpowered · overwhelmed · threatened
cowererconfronter
One who faces directly
challenger · stander · resister · defier · fighter