Anime & Manga
"Don't run away! Don't run away, you coward! The Demon Slayer Corps is always fighting you demons in the dark of the night where you have the advantage! That's right, us flesh and blood humans! Our wounds don't close up that easily! And we cannot regenerate a limb once lost! You bastard! You coward! Rengoku is way more amazing than you! He's stronger! Rengoku didn't lose! He didn't let anybody die! He fought to the end! He protected them to the end! You're the one who lost! It's Rengoku who won!"
—Kamado Tanjiro to Akaza, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Panik: Give up! Admit defeat! I'm going to crack you like an egg!
Yami Yugi: You'd like me to crack, wouldn't you, Panik? Because it's worked for you before - winning through intimidation, not through skill.
Panik: You mock my skill? My skill is what's defeating you!
Yami Yugi: Don't be so sure.
Panik: What do you mean by that?
Yami Yugi: You think you're winning, that's your tactics are taking me by surprise, but I saw your strategy the minute I saw what kind of man you are.
Panik: You're talking nonsense.
Yami Yugi: I knew you would use Chaos Shield! Cowardly bullies like you always try to hide behind something!
Panik: Shut up! I'm in no way a coward, and I never try to hide behind anything!
Yami Yugi: Your whole strategy is nothing but hiding and cowering.
Panik: You dare to call me a coward?! You insignificant little worm! Nobody talks to me that way! I am Panik the Eliminator! [He slams his fist on his console, activating the flamethrowers on Yugi's side of the field. Two jets of fire are shot at Yugi, but he dodges out of their way.]
Yami Yugi: Are you finished? Or are you going to continue to hide behind your bluster and battlements? Like a big coward? [Panik growls at Yami angrily.]
Yami Yugi: The truth hurts, doesn't it, Panik? Facing up to your true self is usually more than bullies like you can bear, so you hide in the shadows.
Panik: You will taunt me no longer!....I will burn you to a cinder!
Yami Yugi: That would prove you're a coward! If you're not afraid, then you should stop hiding and play this game with honor. Or I will rip your pathetic fearsome facade away!
Yami Yugi: You'd like me to crack, wouldn't you, Panik? Because it's worked for you before - winning through intimidation, not through skill.
Panik: You mock my skill? My skill is what's defeating you!
Yami Yugi: Don't be so sure.
Panik: What do you mean by that?
Yami Yugi: You think you're winning, that's your tactics are taking me by surprise, but I saw your strategy the minute I saw what kind of man you are.
Panik: You're talking nonsense.
Yami Yugi: I knew you would use Chaos Shield! Cowardly bullies like you always try to hide behind something!
Panik: Shut up! I'm in no way a coward, and I never try to hide behind anything!
Yami Yugi: Your whole strategy is nothing but hiding and cowering.
Panik: You dare to call me a coward?! You insignificant little worm! Nobody talks to me that way! I am Panik the Eliminator! [He slams his fist on his console, activating the flamethrowers on Yugi's side of the field. Two jets of fire are shot at Yugi, but he dodges out of their way.]
Yami Yugi: Are you finished? Or are you going to continue to hide behind your bluster and battlements? Like a big coward? [Panik growls at Yami angrily.]
Yami Yugi: The truth hurts, doesn't it, Panik? Facing up to your true self is usually more than bullies like you can bear, so you hide in the shadows.
Panik: You will taunt me no longer!....I will burn you to a cinder!
Yami Yugi: That would prove you're a coward! If you're not afraid, then you should stop hiding and play this game with honor. Or I will rip your pathetic fearsome facade away!
—Yu-Gi-Oh!, "Winning Through Intimidation"
Comic Books
Lucy Weber: You are such a coward!
Sherlock Frankenstein: How dare you, little girl! I am Sherlock Frankenstein! I am the terror of Spiral City! I have seen and done more in my life than you will ever even dream of!
Lucy Weber: Yeah? Well, all I see is a bitter old man who's too scared to feel anything ever again. Don't worry, Sherlock, your secrets are safe with me. I don't care enough to tell anyone about you. I have better things to do... like look for my dad. Oh, and when I find them... I'll be sure to tell Gail that you were too scared to come looking for her.
Sherlock Frankenstein: How dare you, little girl! I am Sherlock Frankenstein! I am the terror of Spiral City! I have seen and done more in my life than you will ever even dream of!
Lucy Weber: Yeah? Well, all I see is a bitter old man who's too scared to feel anything ever again. Don't worry, Sherlock, your secrets are safe with me. I don't care enough to tell anyone about you. I have better things to do... like look for my dad. Oh, and when I find them... I'll be sure to tell Gail that you were too scared to come looking for her.
Fan Works
Kallen: "You said you joined the military to try and change Britannia, but you can't change anything if you’re dead! You think you'd make yourself a martyr if you died?! You're an Eleven in their eyes, they won't care! You'd abandon all your so-called friends just to 'redeem' yourself. That's not redemption Suzaku, it's just you being a coward."
Films — Animated
"Are you afraid to fight me yourself, you cowardly snake?!"
— Aladdin to Jafar, Aladdin
Films — Live-Action
Worf: With all due respect, sir, ...I believe you are allowing your personal experience with the Borg to influence your judgement.
Picard: You're afraid. You want to destroy the ship and run away. You coward.
Crusher: Jean-Luc...
Worf: (Death Glare) If you were any other man I would kill you where you stand.
Picard: You're afraid. You want to destroy the ship and run away. You coward.
Crusher: Jean-Luc...
Worf: (Death Glare) If you were any other man I would kill you where you stand.
[Alfrid is found disguised as a woman in an attempt to avoid going to battle]
Woman: Alfrid Lickspittle! You are a coward.
Alfrid: Coward!? Not every man's brave enough to wear a corset!note
Woman: You're not a man! You're a weasel.
Woman: Alfrid Lickspittle! You are a coward.
Alfrid: Coward!? Not every man's brave enough to wear a corset!note
Woman: You're not a man! You're a weasel.
Live-Action TV
"You got no balls, Paul Barron! This is typical! Kinky John will take it all out on me, and I have nothing to do with this decision!"
— Tony concerning Paul Barron, Bang Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer
Amy: You're a coward!
Sheldon: Well...! The evidence does support that.
Sheldon: Well...! The evidence does support that.
Philip Banks: You know, Will was doing just fine 'til you showed up. But now that you're back, you have responsibilities to him.
Lou Smith: Look, we're still gonna take the trip -
Philip: Oh, bull! BULL! Will is not a coat that you hang in the closet then pick it up when you're ready to wear it! His life goes on! He's not supposed to be here for you; you're supposed to be here for him!
Lou: You get off my back! You think I want this?! It just happened! Now, when Will was a baby, I was scared -
Philip: CUT THE CRAP, ALL RIGHT?! CUT IT! Cause I've been there! But I didn't run out on my family. I was there every day for them, cause that's what a man does.
Lou: FINE, PHILIP! You win! You're the man! Hey, you're a better man than me! You happy?
Lou Smith: Look, we're still gonna take the trip -
Philip: Oh, bull! BULL! Will is not a coat that you hang in the closet then pick it up when you're ready to wear it! His life goes on! He's not supposed to be here for you; you're supposed to be here for him!
Lou: You get off my back! You think I want this?! It just happened! Now, when Will was a baby, I was scared -
Philip: CUT THE CRAP, ALL RIGHT?! CUT IT! Cause I've been there! But I didn't run out on my family. I was there every day for them, cause that's what a man does.
Lou: FINE, PHILIP! You win! You're the man! Hey, you're a better man than me! You happy?
—The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse"
"You walked out on me, Stanley Zbornak! You walked out on me and you didn't have the decency to tell me you were leaving. I heard it from some lawyer over the phone. A stranger, Stanley, a total stranger told me my marriage was over...I deserved better than a stinking phone call from my husband's legal representative. You had a choice, and you took the easy way out, and it was a rotten thing to do!"
— Dorothy Hollingsworth about Stan Zbornak, The Golden Girls, "Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding"
Bobby: You sound like a whiny brat! No...you sound like your dad. Well, let me tell you something - your dad was a coward.
Dean: My dad was a lot of things, Bobby, but a coward....?
Bobby: He'd rather push Sam away than reach out to him! Well, that don't strike me as brave! You...are a better man than your daddy ever was. So you do both of us a favor: don't be him.
Dean: My dad was a lot of things, Bobby, but a coward....?
Bobby: He'd rather push Sam away than reach out to him! Well, that don't strike me as brave! You...are a better man than your daddy ever was. So you do both of us a favor: don't be him.
—Supernatural, "Lucifer Rising"
"I've been called many things. Absentee father, wrathful monster. But coward..."
— Chuck after being called a coward by Metatron, Supernatural, "Don't Call Me Shurley"
Tabletop Games
"Face me if you dare, stunted whelp, or do you lack even an Elven maid's courage? I thought the Sons of Grungni were great warriors, but perhaps you are no true Dwarf. Indeed, maybe you are instead some breed of bearded goblin, though in truth, I have seen a finer beard on a Troll's back-side."
— Wulfrik the Wanderer, Warhammer Fantasy
Video Games
Mistake not mine intent, good priest. Know this: their troubles are beneath me still. But you, who call me craven, weak of will... I'd prove you wrong, for peace of mind and pride.
—Hasshe, Live A Live (2022 remake)
Tony: Oh, there's the Bruce I know! Throw everyone under the bus, why don't ya?
Natasha: Now's not the time...
[...]
Tony: No, actually? I do the job! I make the tough decisions!
Bruce: DON'T!
Tony: I stand by the people who made me what I am!
Bruce: (with Glowing Eyes of Doom) I'M WARNING YOU! (starts Hulking Out)
Tony: What's the matter, Bruce? I make you angry? See, that's always been your problem. Running from who you are! What you are! Maybe that's why Monica got the better of you! (Bruce, now the Hulk, furiously roars at Tony and grabs him in a Neck Lift just as he brings down his faceplate) I was just agreeing with you, big guy! That Banner's a coward!
Natasha: Now's not the time...
[...]
Tony: No, actually? I do the job! I make the tough decisions!
Bruce: DON'T!
Tony: I stand by the people who made me what I am!
Bruce: (with Glowing Eyes of Doom) I'M WARNING YOU! (starts Hulking Out)
Tony: What's the matter, Bruce? I make you angry? See, that's always been your problem. Running from who you are! What you are! Maybe that's why Monica got the better of you! (Bruce, now the Hulk, furiously roars at Tony and grabs him in a Neck Lift just as he brings down his faceplate) I was just agreeing with you, big guy! That Banner's a coward!
Warren: If you hadn't wasted our time sticking your nose up them white boys' asses, we could've owned the whole damn game by now!
King: I told you before- we ain't gettin' into that shit!
Warren: And why the fuck not?! That's where all the money is! If you had got with that shit back in the day, the Carnales would've been ghosts by now! But you didn't, did you? You were too much of a pussy then! And you're too much of a pussy now! (King grabs Warren's head and slams it into a table) FUCK!
King: I told you before- we ain't gettin' into that shit!
Warren: And why the fuck not?! That's where all the money is! If you had got with that shit back in the day, the Carnales would've been ghosts by now! But you didn't, did you? You were too much of a pussy then! And you're too much of a pussy now! (King grabs Warren's head and slams it into a table) FUCK!
Donnie: I didn't have a choi-!
Maero: (lifting Donnie by his neck) You had a choice, Donnie! You chose your life over the rest of us!
Donnie: (gasping for air) I had a gun to my head, man! What was I supposed to do?
Maero: Have a spine!
Maero: (lifting Donnie by his neck) You had a choice, Donnie! You chose your life over the rest of us!
Donnie: (gasping for air) I had a gun to my head, man! What was I supposed to do?
Maero: Have a spine!
Western Animation
"You don't cheat death. You whimper in fear of it!"
— Batman to Ra's al Ghul, Batman Beyond, "Out of the Past"
"Oh, come on, Quagmire, you're a grown man, responsible for his own choices. Seems kind of cowardly to blame someone else for your problems."
— Brian Griffin, Family Guy, "Quagmire's Mom"
Avocato: Just listen! I just-
Gary: You're a coward.
[Beat]
Avocato: Don't. CALL ME THAT!
Gary: What? "Coward" gets you worked up? Go walk in there and tell the boy that you killed. His parents! That you aren't even. His real. Dad!
Avocato: [Beat] I-
Gary: That's what I thought. You're. A coward.
Avocato: And you. Murdered Fox!
Gary: IT WASN'T ME! INVICTUS DID IT!
Gary: You're a coward.
[Beat]
Avocato: Don't. CALL ME THAT!
Gary: What? "Coward" gets you worked up? Go walk in there and tell the boy that you killed. His parents! That you aren't even. His real. Dad!
Avocato: [Beat] I-
Gary: That's what I thought. You're. A coward.
Avocato: And you. Murdered Fox!
Gary: IT WASN'T ME! INVICTUS DID IT!
— Final Space, "Forgiveness"
"Wait a minute! First you tell me my oatmeal's gonna eat me, and I believed you because, you know, well, that could happen. But sand lizards? I've been in a bazillion sandboxes, except well, for that one time at Angelica's when Fluffy thought it was a big poop box. I never been a'scared of a sandbox in my whole life! I mean, you can't be afraid of everything, Fred! I mean, you gotta do somethin', sometime!"
— Chuckie to Freddy, Rugrats, "Opposites Attract"
