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View synonyms for cowed

cowed

[ koud ]

adjective

  1. frightened by threats, violence, superior strength or ability, etc.; intimidated or overawed:

    No, I’m not worried about going up against the chess champion—what do you take me for, an easily cowed novice?



verb

  1. the simple past tense and past participle of cow 2.

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Other Words From

  • un·cowed adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cowed1

First recorded in 1740–50; cow 2( def ) + -ed 2( def ) for the adjective; cow 2( def ) + -ed 1( def ) for the verb

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Example Sentences

The Columbia Repository newspaper ran a story of a 1,300-pound mammoth cheese made from milking the cows of each of the 186 farmers in the town of Cheshire, Massachusetts.

Elephants promote grass growth by clearing brush and small trees, so as their numbers shrink, there’s less grass for cows to graze on.

But, according to the unofficial story from inside the Kodak factory, the company’s dedicated R&D wing started because of some cows—and would go on to make some truly fascinating discoveries.

We have about 2,000 people here spread out over 500 square miles of cows and wheat, so social distancing came naturally to us.

A plant-based milk alternative using fava beans, hatched in Konolfingen, promises close similarity to cow’s milk in taste and texture and will hit shelves in March.

From Fortune

In 1386, the crowd of onlookers was cowed into silence by the threat of losing a hand.

Liberals, especially outside cities and university towns, are probably a little cowed.

And it is girls themselves who are refusing to be cowed or blackmailed into accepting their subjugation.

It took more than a decade for “guns” to become an issue that cowed liberals and Democrats.

A true revolutionary who will not be cowed by the Beltway sell-outs.

The Opposition, completely cowed, did not venture to demand another division.

The malecontents, generally so insolent and turbulent, seemed to be completely cowed.

Crawley returned to their old relation, and was cowed by the natural ascendency of the greater spirit.

But the people were no more than slaves—beaten and cowed into submission.

They were all thoroughly cowed, as are dogs that have been illtreated.

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