cower

/'kauə/
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cower

The frightened puppy cowers under the wooden chair during the thunderstorm.

Definition
  1. Intransitive Verb:
    • To crouch or draw back in a position that shows fear, timidity, or submission. The action often involves lowering the body, hunching the shoulders, and trying to make oneself appear smaller.
    • To shrink away or recoil in fear from something or someone.
Usage
  • cower is used to describe a physical reaction to a perceived threat, intimidation, or extreme discomfort. It implies a lack of courage or a desire to hide. It is typically followed by an adverb (e.g., ) or a prepositional phrase (e.g., , ).
  • The subject is usually a person or an animal.
Examples
  • The small dog would cower under the table whenever there was thunder.
  • The hostages cowered in the dark room, terrified of their captors.
  • She cowered behind the door, hoping not to be seen.
Advanced Usage
  • "to cower before/at": to show fear in the presence of a specific person or thing.
    • The citizens were forced to cower before the tyrant.
  • Used figuratively to describe a timid or submissive reaction that is not purely physical.
    • The company cowered under the threat of a lawsuit and quickly settled.
Variants and Related Words
  • Cowering (adj, present participle): Describing someone in the act of cowering.
    • The cowering child was quickly comforted.
  • Cowered (v, past tense and past participle).
Synonyms
  • Cringe: To shrink back in fear or servility.
  • Crouch: To stoop low with the limbs close to the body (can be neutral or fearful).
  • Flinch: To make a quick, nervous movement from pain or fear.
  • Quail: To feel or show fear or apprehension.
  • Grovel: To behave in a servile or obsequious manner out of fear.
Antonyms
  • Confront: To face in a hostile or defiant manner.
  • Stand tall: To be brave and confident.
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • To make someone cower: To intimidate or frighten someone into a submissive posture.
    • His angry glare was enough to make anyone cower.
  • Cower in fear/dread: A common collocation emphasizing the emotion.
    • They cowered in fear as the storm raged outside.
cower

The frightened puppy cowers under the wooden chair during the thunderstorm.

Verb
  1. show submission or fear
  2. crouch or curl up
    • They huddled outside in the rain

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