craven

adjective cra·ven \ˈkrā-vən\

: having or showing a complete lack of courage : very cowardly

Full Definition of CRAVEN

archaic : defeated, vanquished

: lacking the least bit of courage : contemptibly fainthearted

— craven noun

— cra·ven·ly adverb

— cra·ven·ness \-vən-nəs\ noun

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Origin of CRAVEN

Middle English cravant

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CRAVEN

Synonyms: chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, cowardly, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow

Antonyms: brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous

Synonym Discussion of CRAVEN

cowardly, pusillanimous, craven, dastardly mean having or showing a lack of courage. cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage <a cowardly failure to stand up for principle>. pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage <the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility>. craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance <secretly despised her own craven yes-men>. dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous <a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians>.