Cowardly, a.
1. Wanting courage; basely or weakly timid or fearful; pusillanimous; spiritless. The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle. Shak.
2. Proceeding from fear of danger or other consequences; befitting a coward; dastardly; base; as, cowardly malignity. Macualay. The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face. Burke.
Syn. -- Timid; fearful; timorous; dastardly; pusillanimous; recreant; craven; faint-hearted; chicken-hearted; white-livered.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Cowardly, adv.
In the manner of a coward. Spenser.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists cowardly only as an antonym, under brave.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given