craven

[krey-vuhn]

adjective

1. cowardly; contemptibly timid; pusillanimous.

   Synonyms: timorous, fearful, dastardly

noun

1. a coward.

verb (used with object)

1. to make cowardly.

craven

/ ˈkreɪvən /

adjective

1. cowardly; mean-spirited

noun

1. a coward

Other Word Forms

• cravenly adverb
• cravenness noun
• uncraven adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of craven¹

1175–1225; Middle English cravant, cravaunde defeated < Old French craventé, past participle of cravanter to crush, overwhelm (< Vulgar Latin *crepantāre ), influenced by Middle English creaunt defeated ( recreant )

Word History and Origins

Origin of craven¹

C13 cravant, probably from Old French crevant bursting, from crever to burst, die, from Latin crepāre to burst, crack

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cry craven, to yield; capitulate; give up.

Example Sentences

The idea that you’re going to use that tragedy and intercut images with a woman with a hijab giving a speech, to me is so grotesquely craven.

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Instead, in 1917-1921, we had totally craven state governments who rushed to pass their own versions of the federal law that was the cornerstone of the repression, the Espionage Act.

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Not the fact that his presidency is built on his craven desire for personal retribution instead of pursuing what’s best for the American people.

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In response, the X owner called the Liberal Democrat leader a "craven coward".

Read more on BBC

More churlish souls might attribute such stubborn determination to craven commercial interests, but something more is in play.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• mean-spirited www.thesaurus.com