What does cowardlier mean?
Cowardlier means more cowardly: having or showing less courage than someone or something else. It is the comparative form of cowardly and is usually used when two people, actions, or choices are being compared, as in “more cowardly than his rival.” Although its meaning is clear, the alternative expression more cowardly is more common in everyday English. The word can describe a person’s conduct, but it also frequently characterizes decisions or actions considered morally contemptible, such as abandoning others under danger or refusing to confront a difficult responsibility. Cowardlier consequently carries a strongly negative, often disapproving connotation rather than serving as a neutral description of someone who is merely cautious. Its comparative form makes it useful when discussing changes in character or escalating behavior: an act that was cowardly may subsequently be described as becoming still more cowardly. The word is understood throughout British and American English but is less frequent than the standard expanded comparative.
adjectiveMore cowardly; more lacking in courage. The word is chiefly a comparative form of cowardly.
- Having or displaying less courage than another person, action, or standard of conduct.
"Each excuse for not helping seemed more cowardly than the last."
"The second retreat looked even more cowardly than the first."
"The witness's refusal to identify the attacker appeared more cowardly than caution could explain."
The useful twist: cowardlier compares levels of cowardice, always selecting the greater rather than the lesser.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How cowardlier is actually used
Cowardlier is less common than the standard comparative construction more cowardly. It is normally used predicatively or before a noun and carries the same morally disapproving connotation as cowardly.
Easily confused with cowardlier
Cowardly is the positive form, while cowardlier compares one thing with another as having greater cowardice.