Definition of recreantnext
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recreant

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noun

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as in coward
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger the historian reserved his greatest contempt for those recreants who opposed the witch hunt but lacked the courage to speak out against it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recreant
Adjective
  • David, not unlike Jerry, was afraid of falling and white-knuckled his way through.
    Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Since the incident nearly a year ago, the victim has been afraid to go outside, according to Clifton.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Telemachus’ lone contribution is killing Melanthius, the traitorous Ithacan farmhand, thus preventing him from continuing to arm the suitors.
    Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • And at the very center of Hell is Satan himself, the traitorous Archangel Lucifer, depicted as a monstrous creature with wings and three heads.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • And within his own country’s history, particularly, Dhont discovered the fates that met would-be deserters who were caught — brutal sentences often leading to death.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
  • The love story of a Confederate deserter (Jude Law) journeying back to his North Carolina home and his love (Nicole Kidman) drives the Civil War drama.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • No, and as true as all that might be, the most important lesson is that DEI turns people into cowards.
    Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • But Coyote has hitched his hopes for the mammoth case upon a man who could only be called a coward.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Brian would have to report back home to his louse of a father to fight or be branded a traitor.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Each season, The Traitors brings together a group of people for a game of deceit, separating the cast into faithfuls and traitors who must try to figure out who is who.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Nations are sustained not just by declarations and famous generals, but by less celebrated moments when frightened, exhausted people decide not to give up.
    Harry Ostrer, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Also at top of mind was the film’s sound design, which is deliberately used as another tool to make the audience feel frightened and uncomfortable.
    William Earl, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Patel sued the magazine for defamation that month, seeking $250 million and calling the article false and fabricated.
    CBS News, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Perez Hilton’s family is clearing up some false reports tied to the blogger’s recovery from a self-harm incident that unfolded on TikTok last month.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Niger’s ruling junta survived its most serious internal challenge since the 2023 coup after renegade soldiers mutinied in Niamey and Russian Africa Corps fighters helped presidential guards retake a key airbase.
    Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In some ways, there is a strange kind of unity to these three—all are set during the Depression, all feature stylish renegades.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Recreant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recreant. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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