adjective

craven

/ˈkreɪvən/ · say it: GRAY·vuhn

cowardly

In From the Opinion Pages

In more detail

1. (adjective) lacking courage; too afraid to do something difficult or dangerous

2. (adjective) showing a complete lack of courage

Examples

1. He was accused of making a craven decision to abandon his principles.
2. The general's craven retreat from battle shocked his troops.

How to use craven

Craven is a literary or formal adjective that describes not just fear but a shameful, contemptible lack of courage. It carries stronger moral judgment than neutral words like fearful, often implying that someone's cowardice is particularly despicable or blameworthy. It appears frequently in historical, fictional, or polemical contexts.

Common phrases

craven coward
craven fear
craven act
craven retreat
craven surrender

Synonyms

cowardly · fearful · timid · spineless · gutless

Opposites

brave · courageous · valiant

Word family

cravenly (adverb) · cravenness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse craven with craven as a noun (which is archaic); in modern English it functions only as an adjective or adverb, not as a noun for 'a coward.'

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