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Cowardly vs Brave - What's the difference?

cowardly | brave | Antonyms |

Brave is a antonym of cowardly.



As adjectives the difference between cowardly and brave

is that cowardly is showing cowardice; lacking in courage; basely or weakly fearful while brave is strong in the face of fear; courageous.

As an adverb cowardly

is in the manner of a coward.

As a noun brave is

a Native American warrior.

As a verb brave is

to encounter with courage and fortitude, to defy.

cowardly

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • In the manner of a coward.
  • * , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.48:
    • I love to follow them, but not so cowardly , as my life remaine thereby in subjection.

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Showing cowardice; lacking in courage; basely or weakly fearful.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle.
  • * Burke
    • The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face.

    Related terms

    * coward

    brave

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Strong in the face of fear; courageous.
  • *1897 , (Bram Stoker), (Dracula), Chapter 21:
  • *:Do not fret, dear. You must be brave and strong, and help me through the horrible task. If you only knew what an effort it is to me to tell of this fearful thing at all, you would understand how much I need your help.
  • *1987 , Michael Grumley, The Last Diary :
  • *:he has been so brave , giving it all a dignity.
  • (label) Having any sort of superiority or excellence.
  • *(Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
  • *:Iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth.
  • *(Samuel Pepys) (1633-1703)
  • *:It being a brave day, I walked to Whitehall.
  • Making a fine show or display.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:Wear my dagger with the braver grace.
  • * (1558-1592)
  • *:For I have gold, and therefore will be brave . / In silks I'll rattle it of every color.
  • *(Ralph Waldo Emerson) (1803-1882)
  • *:Frog and lizard in holiday coats / And turtle brave in his golden spots.
  • *
  • *:So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired-in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills,a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.

    • Synonyms

    * (courageous) doughty, orped, resilient, stalwart. See also

    Antonyms

    * (courageous) cowardly, fearful, mean, weak

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A Native American warrior.
  • A man daring beyond discretion; a bully.
  • * Dryden
    • Hot braves like thee may fight.
  • A challenge; a defiance; bravado.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Demetrius, thou dost overween in all; / And so in this, to bear me down with braves .

    Verb

  • To encounter with courage and fortitude, to defy.
  • * (rfdate), (John Dryden)
    • These I can brave , but those I can not bear.
  • * 1773 , A Farmer, Rivington's New-York Gazetteer , Number 53, December 2
    • but they [Parliament] never will be braved into it.
    After braving''' tricks on the high-dive, he '''braved a jump off the first diving platform.
  • (obsolete) To adorn; to make fine or showy.
  • * (rfdate), Shakespeare
    • Thou [a tailor whom Grunio was browbeating] hast braved meny men; brave not me; I'll neither be faced or braved.

    Derived terms

    * bravely * bravery * bravure 1000 English basic words ----