as in afraid
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
a craven refusal to deliver the unwelcome news personally
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of craven
Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025
Unlike the Founders who risked their lives, this bunch, with precious few exceptions, is too craven to risk even their jobs.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
Scheider returns as Amity Island’s beleaguered police chief, a man still forced to work with Murray Hamilton’s craven mayor, who’s somehow kept his job after keeping the beaches open during the last shark attack.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 June 2025
The disconnect between Trump’s stagings of brute force is striking and more than a little worrisome for those who have long thought civilian control of the military would have stopped such a craven choice.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for craven
Adjective
While health care and food assistance command the most attention, the craven assault on clean energy cannot be minimized.
—Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025
Unlike the Founders who risked their lives, this bunch, with precious few exceptions, is too craven to risk even their jobs.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
Scheider returns as Amity Island’s beleaguered police chief, a man still forced to work with Murray Hamilton’s craven mayor, who’s somehow kept his job after keeping the beaches open during the last shark attack.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 June 2025
The disconnect between Trump’s stagings of brute force is striking and more than a little worrisome for those who have long thought civilian control of the military would have stopped such a craven choice.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for craven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for craven
Adjective
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Beck has a fluid, quick throwing motion and isn’t afraid to fit the ball into tight windows.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Luckily, the 2025 Emmys shows us that, now more than ever, men aren’t afraid to show a little personality in their red carpet looks.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So this coward had to fire from outside of the church, through the church windows and into the church.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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According to Boxing called Davis a coward for his decision.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Qatar denounces ‘cowardly’ Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders Israel launched an aerial strike against senior Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday, in its first direct attack on Qatari soil, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Now innocent children are dying because so many people were too cowardly to speak up.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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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
Adjective
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This version of Frankenstein’s monster enters the world as a frightened newborn babe, scared and curious and desperate for human affection.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
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In fact, Vanngo wants everyone to keep in mind that makeup is meant to be played and experimented with, so don’t be scared to try a new look.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Republicans are frightened, too.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Farima was withdrawn and frightened.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Listen, by doing it this way, with a press release instead of a press conference, Rose looks both gutless and gutty at the same time.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2025
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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
Adjective
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That kind of spineless politics is what people are sick of.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
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Played by a sniveling Casey Siemaszko, Billy is spineless and spiteful.—
Sezin Devi Koehler September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Craven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/craven. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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