recreant

[ rek-ree-uhnt ]

adjective

1. cowardly or craven.

   Synonyms: yellow, base, pusillanimous, dastardly

   Antonyms: brave

2. unfaithful, disloyal, or traitorous.

   Synonyms: apostate, untrue, faithless

   Antonyms: loyal

noun

1. a coward.

   Synonyms: dastard

   Antonyms: hero

2. an apostate, traitor, or renegade.

recreant

/ ˈrɛkrɪənt /

adjective

1. cowardly; faint-hearted
2. disloyal

noun

1. a disloyal or cowardly person

Derived Forms

• ˈrecreance, noun
• ˈrecreantly, adverb

Other Words From

• recre·ance recre·an·cy noun
• recre·ant·ly adverb
• un·recre·ant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recreant¹

1300–50; Middle English < Old French, adj. and noun use of present participle of recreire to yield in a contest, equivalent to re- re- + creire < Latin crēdere to believe

Word History and Origins

Origin of recreant¹

C14: from Old French, from recroire to surrender, from re- + Latin crēdere to believe; compare miscreant

Example Sentences

I had rather prove recreant to the oath I took before I realized the worth of the woman whose happiness I vowed to destroy.

From Project Gutenberg

While thus employed there came almost bursting into the room a man struck with remorse—Jefferies, the recreant postmaster.

From Project Gutenberg

It was possible that, when nothing more was to be gained by falsehoods, his recreant friend would clear his fame once for all.

From Project Gutenberg

Not for a moment did the Doctor believe that his recreant son pondered wisely and deeply these successive epistles of his.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus far had my conscience written with my pen; and see what a recreant she had made of me!

From Project Gutenberg