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
• stout
• valorous
• dauntless
• stalwart
• gutsy
• bold
• audacious
• cheeky
• stouthearted
• spirited
• 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
• 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

Unlike their cynical and craven counterparts in Texas, a majority of Indiana Republican state senators understood that short-term electoral gains weren’t worth sacrificing their principles. —The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 16 Dec. 2025

The King Gizzard rip-offs are particularly craven: This year, the band became the highest-profile to date to pull its music from Spotify in protest of Daniel Ek’s military investments. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2025

Noun

As cold fronts continue to pummel the East coast and craven billionaires and mad kings continue to play pickle-ball with our rights, lifting up the light has rarely felt more important. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026

Obi-Wan, the craven victor, revealing his true self. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025

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