lacking courage; contemptibly timid.

characteristic of or befitting a coward; despicably mean, covert, or unprincipled

a cowardly attack on a weak, defenseless man.

like a coward.

adjective

bold , brave , courageous , daring , dauntless , unafraid , undaunted , unfearful

adjective

afraid , anxious , apprehensive , backward , base , caitiff , chicken-hearted , cowering , cowhearted , craven , dastardly , diffident , dismayed , fainthearted , frightened , gutless , having the willies , jittery , lacking courage , lily-livered * , nervous , no guts , panicky , paper tiger * , pigeonhearted , pusillanimous , recreant , retiring , running scared , scared , shrinking , shy , soft * , spineless * , timid , timorous , weak , weak-kneed , worthless , yellow * , yellow-bellied , chickenhearted , faint-hearted , lily-livered , unmanly