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Definition of cowardly in English:

cowardly

adjective

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