Definition of cowardly in English:

cowardly

adjective

1Lacking courage.
‘he was a weak, cowardly man’
- ‘And the higher up you get in education the more cowardly you become.’
- ‘Kay has left Benjamin before because he's weak and cowardly.’
- ‘As it happens this war is being fought in a rather cowardly manner.’
- ‘The more cowardly completely lost courage, but the more able and subtle did not think it necessary to give up.’
- ‘A timid or cowardly person would never take that leap.’
- ‘His neighbors are too small, too weak, too cowardly, or too troubled to take care of him themselves.’
- ‘Making unfounded claims in a public forum - a press conference no less - are the actions of a very weak and cowardly man.’
- ‘They think we are weak, cowardly people who will be intimidated and scared off by their mistreatment of our prisoners.’
- ‘The Prime Minister was too cowardly to visit the chamber while rebels wrecked his legislation.’
- ‘Were the librarians who filed the complaint responsible and courageous, or cowardly and unprofessional?’
- ‘She was apparently on a vain quest to appeal to the man that he once was, trying to beg his soft, weak, cowardly side for mercy.’
- ‘I also, typically, want to be a good person, to be courageous rather than cowardly, fair rather than unjust, and the like.’
- ‘Sure she knew he loved her, but he was too cowardly to admit it.’
- ‘Finally, irritated with myself for being so cowardly to turn away, I looked back into his eyes.’
- ‘They are dull, slow, sober and fearful characters with a weak pulse and a cowardly, slothful disposition.’
- ‘A strange country where the military lost their power but none of the cowardly politicians had the courage to tell them.’
- ‘We are all courageous and cowardly, depending on the hour and the day.’
- ‘I'd never felt so cowardly before in my life until that moment.’
- ‘There is more foolishness, more cowardly hearts, less courage, lack of appreciation and gratitude and less politeness.’
faint-hearted, lily-livered, chicken-hearted, pigeon-hearted, spiritless, spineless, craven
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1. 1.1 (of an action) carried out against a person who is unable to retaliate.
  ‘a cowardly attack on a helpless victim’
  ‘This was a particularly cowardly attack, it's the nastiness of the injuries really.’
  ‘What concerns me was they contained a cowardly attack on a local councillor.’
  ‘My prayers and condolences are with those whose lives were tragically altered by the cowardly attacks.’
  ‘This man has carried out a cowardly attack on an elderly woman who he knew would not be able to defend herself.’
  ‘It was a cowardly attack for very little gain - they got a couple of tins of groceries and a few pounds.’
  ‘This cowardly and savage attack ended the life of ‘a loving, kind and gentle man’.’
  ‘It is an horrific and extremely cowardly attack, which was totally unprovoked.’
  ‘A cowardly attack on innocent civilians brought us an unprecedented level of cooperation and understanding around the world.’
  ‘Kidnapping has always struck me as being rather cowardly.’
  ‘Ours is the greatest city in the world and we will not be divided by your cowardly attacks.’
  ‘After the case she said the men behind the cowardly attack would have known there were children in the house.’
  ‘I would urge the man responsible for the cowardly attack to come forward and admit the crime and face the justice which awaits him.’
  ‘"This was an absolutely despicable and cowardly act, " added Mr Wood.’
  ‘This appears to be a premeditated and cowardly racially motivated attack.’
  ‘And Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack.’
  ‘Saying it was ‘a cowardly attack by three on one, the Judge did acknowledge that no weapon had been used.’’
  ‘We are also certain that the police will apprehend the criminal who carried out this cowardly deed.’
  ‘‘This was a very cowardly and unprovoked attack on a middle-aged lady going about her normal business,’ he said.’
  ‘They called the tactic cowardly but agreed that it had been effective.’