Synonyms of craven

craven 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkrā-vən 

as in afraid

having or showing a shameful lack of courage

a craven refusal to deliver the unwelcome news personally

Synonyms & Similar Words

• afraid
• cowardly
• pusillanimous
• scared
• frightened
• gutless
• spineless
• dastardly
• yellow
• unheroic
• careful
• timid
• fearful
• recreant
• lily-livered
• poltroon
• chickenhearted
• chicken
• weak
• cautious
• timorous
• milk-livered
• diffident
• feeble
• wary
• chicken-livered
• fainthearted
• bashful
• coy
• unmanly
• shy
• soft

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brave
• heroic
• daring
• fearless
• valiant
• courageous
• hardy
• gallant
• intrepid
• brazen
• valorous
• stout
• dauntless
• stalwart
• gutsy
• bold
• audacious
• cheeky
• heroical
• spirited
• stouthearted
• doughty
• lionhearted
• plucky
• resolute
• greathearted
• nervy
• spunky
• determined

craven

2 of 2

noun

as in coward

a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger

a craven who ran away and left everyone else behind to deal with the crisis

Synonyms & Similar Words

• coward
• poltroon
• dastard
• chicken
• sissy
• cur
• funk
• snake
• recreant
• defeatist
• milquetoast
• weakling
• wimp
• caitiff
• pussy
• quitter
• cream puff
• sneak
• pushover
• scaramouche
• ostrich
• scaramouch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hero
• valiant
• stalwart
• daredevil

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective craven differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of craven are cowardly, dastardly, and pusillanimous. While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.

secretly despised her own craven yes-men

When can cowardly be used instead of craven?

The words cowardly and craven can be used in similar contexts, but cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.

a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

When could dastardly be used to replace craven?

Although the words dastardly and craven have much in common, dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.

a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

In what contexts can pusillanimous take the place of craven?

While in some cases nearly identical to craven, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.

the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of craven

Adjective

To keep Kiara's mind off things, Rafiki tells the story of young Mufasa (Aaron Pierre), who got washed away from his family by a huge flood and was saved by Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), the prince of his pride who shows early signs of his craven nature and eventual heel turn as Scar. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024

Dancing around Spider-Man without ever getting to use him also contributed to the feeling that these spin-off films were merely exercises in, ahem, craven opportunism. —Adam B. Vary, Variety, 14 Dec. 2024

Kyle Beach’s courage and humanity is in sharp contrast with the craven men who failed him (Photo: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images) Get all-access to exclusive stories. —Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 24 July 2024

Since then, Trump has regularly lobbed attacks at the military and its top leaders, accusing them of being politically craven and operationally incompetent. —Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2021

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!