Craven
adjective
A person who is very scared and unwilling to do things that might be dangerous or unpleasant.
Despite his big size, he proved to be a craven when it was time to stand up and fight.
Often appears as...
- craven coward
- craven fear
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Literary
noun
Someone who is very scared and avoids danger or difficulties.
He was labeled as a craven for running away from the challenge.
Often appears as...
- a craven individual
- a craven act
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
A person who is very scared and unwilling to do things that might be dangerous or unpleasant.
Despite his big size, he proved to be a craven when it was time to stand up and fight.
Often appears as...
- craven coward
- craven fear
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Literary
noun
Someone who is very scared and avoids danger or difficulties.
He was labeled as a craven for running away from the challenge.
Often appears as...
- a craven individual
- a craven act
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Archaic Usage
Craven as an adjective is old-fashioned and rarely used in modern speech.
Thou shalt not find a craven knight amongst the noble Sir Lancelot's kin.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Craven implies a strong sense of shamefulness and dishonor in being cowardly.
The knight's craven withdrawal from the battle tainted his honor.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Context
In literature, 'craven' is often associated with Gothic or medieval settings.
In the shadowy corridors of the ancient castle, no servant dared to whisper of the lord's craven fear.
Pro Tip 1/3Archaic Usage
Craven as an adjective is old-fashioned and rarely used in modern speech.
Thou shalt not find a craven knight amongst the noble Sir Lancelot's kin.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Craven implies a strong sense of shamefulness and dishonor in being cowardly.
The knight's craven withdrawal from the battle tainted his honor.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Context
In literature, 'craven' is often associated with Gothic or medieval settings.
In the shadowy corridors of the ancient castle, no servant dared to whisper of the lord's craven fear.
Pro Tip 1/3Archaic Usage
Craven as an adjective is old-fashioned and rarely used in modern speech.
Thou shalt not find a craven knight amongst the noble Sir Lancelot's kin.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Craven implies a strong sense of shamefulness and dishonor in being cowardly.
The knight's craven withdrawal from the battle tainted his honor.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Context
In literature, 'craven' is often associated with Gothic or medieval settings.
In the shadowy corridors of the ancient castle, no servant dared to whisper of the lord's craven fear.
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Video examples
Why gun violence can't...
Enough of the daily terror of gun violence in homes and streets that's claimed the lives of women and young black men in staggering proportions. Enough of easy access to guns by the people that we all agree shouldn't have them. And enough of a small group of craven politicians
Video examples
The power in your name PIPE...
Craven state but I understand that some of you all may have had some interesting pivot journeys with your own name and you contemplate these similar questions maybe even someone's pronounce pronounce your name or misspelled your name and you question if it worth it to correct
Video examples
Why gun violence can't...
Enough of the daily terror of gun violence in homes and streets that's claimed the lives of women and young black men in staggering proportions. Enough of easy access to guns by the people that we all agree shouldn't have them. And enough of a small group of craven politicians
Video examples
The power in your name PIPE...
Craven state but I understand that some of you all may have had some interesting pivot journeys with your own name and you contemplate these similar questions maybe even someone's pronounce pronounce your name or misspelled your name and you question if it worth it to correct
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
John Berger
English Artist
As Nelson Mandela has pointed out, boycott is not a principle, it is a tactic depending upon circumstances. A tactic which allows people, as distinct from their elected but often craven governments, to apply a certain pressure on those wielding power in what they, the boycotters, consider to be an unjust or immoral way.
Quote examples
Michael Wolff
American Author
As much as any other producer in the modern movie age, Harvey Weinstein has been a subject of media fascination. The grossness, the bullying, the unbridled exercising of personal power, the craven appetites, the awards and his good taste in films fed that fascination.
Quote examples
Jon Lovett
American Producer
So often on CNN, there's a world-class journalist interviewing campaign rejects and ideologues and silly, craven people who do not care about informing people, that aren't there to help people understand what's going on in the news.
Quote examples
Harvey Pekar
American Writer
I guess I wanted to show people, among other things, that you don't have to be a hero to get through cancer. You can be a craven coward and get through. You have to stay on your medication and take your treatments, that's all.
Quote examples
Matt Taibbi
American Author
What we Americans go through to pick a president is not only crazy and unnecessary but genuinely abusive. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent in a craven, cynical effort to stir up hatred and anger on both sides.
Quote examples
Bill Nighy
English Actor
I've never been a great enthusiast about how I look and I am very... when I was young I had a real anti-talent for inventing myself as unappealing - craven and unremarkable.
Quote examples
Alphonsus Liguori
Italian Clergyman
It is a great mistake, as we have already remarked, to be afraid of Him and to act in His presence like a timid and craven slave trembling with fright before his master.
Quote examples
David Cross
American Actor
Where my comedy really solidified was when Bush was elected. I couldn't understand how craven and crass he was, and how dumb other people were for electing him.
Quote examples
Matthew Weiner
American Writer
This sounds really craven on some level, but on some level, a lot of what I'm doing is trying to not do a typical TV show.
Quote examples
Edwin van der Sar
Dutch Athlete
Craven Cottage is a great stadium, really traditional, going through the rows of houses until a stadium suddenly appears.
Quote examples
John Berger
English Artist
As Nelson Mandela has pointed out, boycott is not a principle, it is a tactic depending upon circumstances. A tactic which allows people, as distinct from their elected but often craven governments, to apply a certain pressure on those wielding power in what they, the boycotters, consider to be an unjust or immoral way.
Quote examples
Michael Wolff
American Author
As much as any other producer in the modern movie age, Harvey Weinstein has been a subject of media fascination. The grossness, the bullying, the unbridled exercising of personal power, the craven appetites, the awards and his good taste in films fed that fascination.
Quote examples
Jon Lovett
American Producer
So often on CNN, there's a world-class journalist interviewing campaign rejects and ideologues and silly, craven people who do not care about informing people, that aren't there to help people understand what's going on in the news.
Quote examples
Harvey Pekar
American Writer
I guess I wanted to show people, among other things, that you don't have to be a hero to get through cancer. You can be a craven coward and get through. You have to stay on your medication and take your treatments, that's all.
Quote examples
Matt Taibbi
American Author
What we Americans go through to pick a president is not only crazy and unnecessary but genuinely abusive. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent in a craven, cynical effort to stir up hatred and anger on both sides.
Quote examples
Bill Nighy
English Actor
I've never been a great enthusiast about how I look and I am very... when I was young I had a real anti-talent for inventing myself as unappealing - craven and unremarkable.
Quote examples
Alphonsus Liguori
Italian Clergyman
It is a great mistake, as we have already remarked, to be afraid of Him and to act in His presence like a timid and craven slave trembling with fright before his master.
Quote examples
David Cross
American Actor
Where my comedy really solidified was when Bush was elected. I couldn't understand how craven and crass he was, and how dumb other people were for electing him.
Quote examples
Matthew Weiner
American Writer
This sounds really craven on some level, but on some level, a lot of what I'm doing is trying to not do a typical TV show.
Quote examples
Edwin van der Sar
Dutch Athlete
Craven Cottage is a great stadium, really traditional, going through the rows of houses until a stadium suddenly appears.
Example 1 of 10
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