cower
/ˈkaʊə/verb
To crouch down or shrink back because you are afraid.
Example sentences
- “The puppy cowered under the table during the thunderstorm.”
- “The villagers cowered in their homes as the storm raged outside.”
The physical act of fear, unrelated in origin to 'coward'. People cower 'in fear', 'behind' something, or 'from' a threat.