cowers
Recoils in dread
Cowers is the third-person singular of cower, meaning to shrink back or crouch in fear.
A dog cowers when scolded; a person cowers before a bully.
The word suggests making oneself smaller, physically or psychologically, in response to threat or intimidation: The child cowered in the corner as his parents fought.
Draws back suddenly
- flinchesInvoluntary recoil movements
- withdrawsPulls out or removes
- retreatsBacks off or sanctuaries
- backs awayMoves in reverse deliberately
shies away · pulls back · shrinks back · recedes · winces · quails · blanches · falters
Bends knees, lowers body
- grovelsShows servile deference
- kneelsBends legs to ground
- bowsRespectful forward bends
- prostratesLies flat in submission
defers · yields · surrenders · capitulates · submits · kowtows · abases · humbles
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- frightSudden intense fear
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
alarm · trepidation · anxiety · apprehension · trembling · quaking · shaking · paralysis
Lacking ability to cope
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- weaknessDeficiency in force
- fragilityEase of breaking
timidity · meekness · smallness · exposure · unprotected · susceptible · prey · victim
Repeatedly mistreated by aggressors
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- dominatedControlled or overpowered
- menacedThreatened with harm
- terrorizedFrightened through threats
oppressed · overpowered · overwhelmed · cornered · trapped · pressured · harassed · persecuted
recoils
Draws back suddenly
backs away · shies away · pulls back · shrinks back · recedes · winces · quails · blanches · falters · hesitates
crouches
Bends knees, lowers body
prostrates · defers · yields · surrenders · capitulates · submits · kowtows · abases · humbles · genuflects
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
horror · alarm · trepidation · anxiety · apprehension · trembling · quaking · shaking · paralysis · frozen
helplessness
Lacking ability to cope
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- weaknessDeficiency in force
fragility · timidity · meekness · smallness · exposure · unprotected · susceptible · prey · victim · tremulous
bullied
Repeatedly mistreated by aggressors
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- dominatedControlled or overpowered
- menacedThreatened with harm
terrorized · oppressed · overpowered · overwhelmed · cornered · trapped · pressured · harassed · persecuted · victimized
cowersstands tall
Exhibits upright pride
rises up · puffs up · stretches out · expands · looms
cowersbraves
Confronts fearlessly
defies · confronts · challenges · resists · dares
cowersdominates
Exerts supreme control
asserts · intimidates · lords over · stands up to · bullies