craven
Craven (adj) means Completely lacking courage; cowardly, especially in a shameful way. Example: “It was a craven act to abandon his team when things got difficult.”
How to use craven
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShamefully cowardly — a stronger, more judgmental word than simply "afraid."
A literary or formal word; in everyday speech people usually just say "cowardly."
Word forms
more craven comparative, cravened past tense, cravens plural, cravens singular, most craven superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was a _____ act to abandon his team when things got difficult.
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for craven
See all rhymes for 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.