Which term refers to the action of crouching down in fear?

The term "cowered" specifically captures the action of crouching down in fear or as a sign of submission. When someone is said to cower, it implies a physical manifestation of fear where an individual may lower themselves or huddle in a way that suggests they are trying to make themselves smaller or less noticeable, often because they feel threatened or scared. This behavior is commonly associated with an instinctual reaction to danger or intimidation.

While "shrunk" and "ducked" convey related ideas of reducing size or movement, they do not encapsulate the emotional connotation of fear in the same way "cowered" does. "Shrank" refers more to the physical act of becoming smaller without the explicit association with fear, and "ducked" typically implies a quick, reflexive action to avoid something (like an object) rather than a response to fear. Therefore, "cowered" is the most appropriate term to describe the specific action of crouching down due to fear.