quailed
Shrank in fear
Quailed is the past tense of quail, meaning to shrink back in fear or lose courage in the face of something intimidating: She quailed at the thought of confronting him.
The word suggests visible flinching or wavering resolve rather than outright flight.
It appears most often in literary contexts.
Recoiled involuntarily from threat
- shrankBecame smaller, past tense
- recoiledShrank back suddenly
- coweredShrank back in fright
- shudderedShook from fear/disgust
winced · trembled · shivered · faltered · hesitated · balked · withdrew · retreated
Intimidated into submission
- dauntedIntimidated into hesitation
- overawedSilenced by greatness
- unnervedMade anxious or unsettled
- subduedReduced in intensity
dismayed · demoralized · browbeaten · bullied · overwhelmed · overpowered · dominated · humbled
Contemptibly lacking nerve
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- chickenheartedLacking bravery or nerve
- spinelessLacking courage or resolve
gutless · timorous · weak-kneed · lily-livered · yellow-bellied · poltroon · recreant · dastardly
flinched
Recoiled involuntarily from threat
shuddered · winced · trembled · shivered · faltered · hesitated · balked · withdrew · retreated · pulled back
cowed
Intimidated into submission
subdued · dismayed · demoralized · browbeaten · bullied · overwhelmed · overpowered · dominated · humbled · crushed
craven
Contemptibly lacking nerve
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- chickenheartedLacking bravery or nerve
spineless · gutless · timorous · weak-kneed · lily-livered · yellow-bellied · poltroon · recreant · dastardly · milksop
dreaded
Regarded with terror
panicked · despaired · agonized · worried · fretted · apprehended · anticipated · awaited · expected · foresaw
quailedstood fast
Remained resolutely unmoved
emboldened · braved · defied · steeled oneself · stood tall
- quail eggsSmall gamebird offspring casings
- wild quail
- quail huntingPursuing small game fowl
- quail seasonPermitted gamebird hunting period