as in afraid
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
a craven refusal to deliver the unwelcome news personally
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of craven
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Dad forcing the family to log off to bury his secret is a craven but understandable move.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
From the ground, the social-media response looked self-interested and craven, a reminder of the dissonance between the two realities.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2025
Fresh off a terrifying election cycle that feels like a fever dream (or the most craven Ryan Murphy series), America in 2025 is downright disorienting.
—Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for craven
Adjective
Actors as skillful as Ruffalo and Toni Collette, the craven leader Marshall’s imperious wife, come off pretty pushy here.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Dad forcing the family to log off to bury his secret is a craven but understandable move.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
From the ground, the social-media response looked self-interested and craven, a reminder of the dissonance between the two realities.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2025
Fresh off a terrifying election cycle that feels like a fever dream (or the most craven Ryan Murphy series), America in 2025 is downright disorienting.
—Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for craven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for craven
Adjective
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Why are the Cleveland Guardians so afraid of letting Ben Lively pitch into the sixth inning or the third time through a batting order?—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
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And remember: Don't ever be afraid to give it a good shake.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Floundering in his career and stressed about planning his wedding, Yvan’s woes compound when his oldest friends turn their insults on him, calling him a coward, an amoeba and a fan of motel art.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2025
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That’s when one coward hit me from behind with a backpack.—
Brie Stimson , Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Those who resort to violence to undermine our state and nation must be held accountable, and our state leaders must reinforce through decisive action that these cowardly attacks will not be tolerated.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2025
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The cowardly capitulation of Paul Weiss and Skadden Arps are negative examples to be learned from.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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In this instance, though, the Administration is not attempting to trample on powerless civil servants or migrants, or pusillanimous law firms, or universities that don’t have as much money as Harvard does.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Well, Netflix has found another one of these aspirational gurus who are scared to die and are willing to go to extreme lengths to preserve their physique — at any cost.—
Rebecca Aizin,
People.com,
16 May 2025
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Keep in mind that behind all that jealousy is usually someone who’s just scared of losing you.—
Anna Pulley,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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These failures in public safety have led to stories from frightened educators, anxious students, and unsafe conditions for our city’s public school communities.—
Savanah Jackson,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2025
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Were there any moments on set where people were seriously quite frightened?—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Two baseballs flew down toward the San Diego Padres’ Jurickson Profar from the left-field corner stands, the gutless moves of two cowards.—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Oct. 2024
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And the really jaw-dropping part of AMLO’s gutless abdication?—
Tim Padgett,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Maybe, when seeing these mass rallies, spineless congressional Republicans might fear for their jobs more from the people than the dictator-in-chief.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
12 May 2025
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Some great options include small palms, hardy banana, cannas, hibiscus, spineless succulents, bedding flowers, and grasses.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Craven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/craven. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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