craven
Americanadjective
noun
verb (used with object)
idioms
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- cravenly adverb
- cravenness noun
- uncraven adjective
Etymology
Origin of craven
1175–1225; Middle English cravant, cravaunde defeated < Old French craventé, past participle of cravanter to crush, overwhelm (< Vulgar Latin *crepantāre ), influenced by Middle English creaunt defeated ( see recreant)
Explanation
A craven man is no Superman or Spiderman, nor is he a firefighter or a soldier. A craven man is the opposite of those guys: he has not an ounce of courage. In "The Wizard of Oz," the Cowardly Lion could have been called the Cravenly Lion, but that didn't sound quite right. Use craven as you would cowardly. A craven leader is scared to lead, while a craven gymnast stays on the mat and avoids the balance beam. You can also use the word to describe other things, besides humans. Craven policies, for example, are probably weak and do not take bold measures.
Vocabulary lists containing craven
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
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Negative Words to Describe a Person
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a December 1904 message to Congress, Roosevelt disdained any “unmanly” inclination to a “peace of tyrannous terror, the peace of craven weakness, the peace of injustice.”
From Salon • Dec. 27, 2025
More churlish souls might attribute such stubborn determination to craven commercial interests, but something more is in play.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025
We would not wish to emulate their most craven tactics, of course, but could learn something from their strategic resolve.
From Salon • Jan. 7, 2025
Henry goes on to accuse Vennells of providing a "craven, self-serving account" of herself to the inquiry in a 750-page witness statement.
From BBC • May 24, 2024
"I wish we hadn't helped him. What if they think we're craven too?"
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
