Synonyms: cowardly, weak, scared, fearful More Synonyms of craven
More Synonyms of craven
craven in British English
(ˈkreɪvən)
adjective
1.
cowardly; mean-spirited
noun
2.
a coward
Derived forms
cravenly (ˈcravenly)
adverb
cravenness (ˈcravenness)
noun
Word origin
C13 cravant, probably from Old French crevant bursting, from crever to burst, die, from Latin crepāre to burst, crack
craven in American English
(ˈkreɪvən)
adjective
1.
very cowardly; abjectly afraid
noun
2.
a thorough coward
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcowardly
Derived forms
cravenly (ˈcravenly)
adverb
cravenness (ˈcravenness)
noun
Word origin
ME cravant < OFr < cravanté, pp. of cravanter, to break < VL *crepantare, to cause to burst < L crepare, to rattle, creak < IE *krep- < base *ker- > raven1
Examples of 'craven' in a sentence
craven
His critics represented this modest reform as a craven surrender to republicanism.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Then we returned to basics with a craven Headingley surrender.
The Sun (2015)
Here in one terrible incident we see the price Britain is paying for craven surrender to the mob.
The Sun (2011)
(adjective)
Definition
cowardly
a craven need to please
Synonyms
cowardly
I was too cowardly to complain.
weak
a clash between a weak minister and a domineering civil servant
scared
fearful
I had often been very fearful and isolated.
abject
He sounded abject and eager to please.
dastardly (old-fashioned)
He described the crime as a dastardly act.
mean-spirited
timorous (literary)
He is a reclusive, timorous creature.
pusillanimous (formal)
The authorities are too pusillanimous to deal with this situation.