cowed

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "cowed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has been intimidated or frightened into submission. Example: "The fierce storm cowed the villagers, making them stay indoors until it passed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Why shouldn't a doctor, cowed and exhausted by a system seemingly designed to undermine and disempower, consider selling their labour to the highest bidder?

The Guardian

As if to make the point, Siân, evidently cowed by our horrible hair, fails to make a single coherent statement about why nuclear power is not the way to go.

The Guardian

But he made it clear he wasn't backing down on another allegation, made in a letter to PEN earlier this week, in which he described Prose and the five other authors to have withdrawn as "the fellow travellers" of "fanatical Islam, which is highly organised, well funded, and which seeks to terrify us all, Muslims as well as non-Muslims, into a cowed silence".

The Guardian - Books

Writing in the Partisan Review in 1958, Mary McCarthy argued that British critics had been cowed into believing that there was no debate in America as to Miller's merits.

The Guardian

In a letter to PEN, he accused them of having "made themselves the fellow travellers" of extremists who seek to censor writers "into a cowed silence".

The Guardian - Books

At the Oscars, she never had that look of being cowed or over-awed by all the pomp and pageantry.

The Guardian - Film

But Meghwal refuses to be cowed.

The Guardian

Independent media are cowed.

The Guardian

And it slams the government Minerals Management Service for being so cowed and incapacitated by industry deregulatory pressure that it failed to exert any serious oversight either.

The Economist

Ms Grindoz went on to complain that elements of civil society in the capital, Lao and international alike, are so cowed by the restrictions they face as to be, in effect, stifled by a system of self-censorship.Several other NGO workers have fled in fear for their own safety during the past two weeks.

The Economist

For the Fed to be an effective lender of last resort, borrowers cannot be cowed by the stigma of public disclosure.Under the compromise contained in the Dodd-Frank Act, the Fed today released details of who borrowed what from its various emergency programmes from December 1st 2007 to July 21st 2010.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cowed" to vividly describe a state of being frightened into submission, especially when highlighting the power dynamic involved.

Common error

Avoid using "cowed" when simply describing fear or sadness; it specifically implies a loss of agency due to intimidation by a more powerful force.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "cowed" is as an adjective, describing a state of being frightened into submission. It can also function as the past tense of the verb "cow". Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "cowed" effectively describes a state of being frightened into submission, commonly found in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While it can fit formal writing, remember to use it when there's a clear indication of power dynamics and forced submission. Alternatives like "intimidated into submission" or "frightened into obedience" can offer slightly different nuances. The high frequency and consistent use in reputable sources underscore its reliability in describing such scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intimidated into submission

This alternative emphasizes the act of intimidation leading to a state of submission.

frightened into obedience

This phrase highlights the fear aspect as the driver for obedience.

subdued by fear

Focuses on the feeling of being subdued and the role of fear in causing it.

bullied into compliance

Replaces "cowed" with a more aggressive form of coercion, highlighting bullying.

brought to heel

An idiomatic expression indicating complete submission to authority.

made compliant through fear

Emphasizes the process of becoming compliant due to fear.

rendered powerless by intimidation

Highlights the loss of power as a result of intimidation.

forced into submission

Focuses on the act of forcing someone into a submissive state.

terrified into silence

Emphasizes the silence resulting from terror.

overwhelmed into passivity

Indicates a state of passivity caused by being overwhelmed.

FAQs

How can I use "cowed" in a sentence?

The word "cowed" describes someone who has been intimidated into submission. For example: "The protesters were "cowed" by the police presence."

What is a good synonym for "cowed"?

Synonyms for "cowed" include "intimidated", "subdued", and "overawed". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "cowed" in formal writing?

Yes, "cowed" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in contexts where you want to convey a sense of power imbalance and forced submission. It's commonly used in news and analytical writing.

What's the difference between "cowed" and "intimidated"?

"Intimidated" simply means to be made afraid, while "cowed" implies a subsequent loss of resolve or submission due to that fear. Someone who is "cowed" has been effectively silenced or controlled by intimidation.