English Dictionary
Definition of “craven”
craven (ˈkreɪvənn
)
Definitions
adjective
- cowardly; mean-spirited
Alternative Forms
ˈcravenly adverb ˈcravenness noun Word Origin
C13 cravant, probably from Old French crevant bursting, from crever to burst, die, from Latin crepāre to burst, crack
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
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cowardly,
weak,
scared,
fearful,
abject,
dastardly,
mean-spirited,
timorous,
pusillanimous,
chickenshit,
caitiff,
chicken-hearted,
yellow,
lily-livered,
niddering,
Usage examples
And even more proud to see the behaviour of the craven politicians of your Parliament.
Baxter, Stephen, Anti-Ice (1993)Of course, there were craven brutes... but there were Japanese revolted by the cruelty they were ordered to inflict.
The Australian (2004)Panorama, presenting "one of the biggest scandals in the history of British sport", portrays racing administrators as craven and complacent.
Times, Sunday Times (2002)I'm a true-blue craven , as you know, but I'm also too old a soldier to waste time raving.
Fraser, George MacDonald, Flashman and the Dragon (1985)
