craven
2 synonyms and 2 antonyms for craven, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Completely lacking courage; cowardly, especially in a shameful way.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Completely lacking courage; cowardly, especially in a shameful way.
“It was a craven act to abandon his team when things got difficult.”
Opposites
How to use craven
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
craven cowardice
a craven act
A literary or formal word; in everyday speech people usually just say "cowardly."
Etymology
From Middle English cravant, from Old French cravanté, "defeated" — the word originally meant someone who had been beaten, and later came to describe someone too cowardly to fight at all.
Full origin of craven →Frequently asked questions
What does “craven” mean?
The word “craven” means completely lacking courage; cowardly, especially in a shameful way. In plain terms, shamefully cowardly — a stronger, more judgmental word than simply "afraid.".
How do you pronounce “craven”?
“Craven” is pronounced KRAY-vuhn (/ˈkɹeɪ.vən/ in IPA).
How do you use “craven” in a sentence?
Here is “craven” used in a sentence: “It was a craven act to abandon his team when things got difficult.”
What part of speech is “craven”?
Depending on how it is used, “craven” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “craven” come from?
The word “craven” comes from Old French. From Middle English cravant, from Old French cravanté, "defeated" — the word originally meant someone who had been beaten, and later came to describe someone too cowardly to fight at all.
Is “craven” a common word?
“Craven” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “craven” have?
“Craven” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: completely lacking courage; cowardly, especially in a shameful way.
