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GRE vocabulary

craven

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore C words

contemptibly cowardly and lacking courage

Word origin: From Old French cravante, overthrown or defeated.

In a sentence

Craven in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing craven in a sentence.

His craven retreat left his companions to face the danger alone.

Critics denounced the senator's craven silence in the face of an obvious injustice.

Synonyms
cowardlytimidfaintheartedpusillanimous
Antonyms
bravecourageousvaliant
Usage & nuance

Using “craven” well

Craven is a strongly contemptuous word for cowardice, harsher than timid. It pairs with pusillanimous and fainthearted and implies moral failure, not mere nervousness.

Common questions

Questions about “craven

Craven (adjective) means contemptibly cowardly and lacking courage
Here is craven used in an example sentence: "His craven retreat left his companions to face the danger alone." Another example: "Critics denounced the senator's craven silence in the face of an obvious injustice."
Common synonyms for craven include cowardly, timid, fainthearted, pusillanimous.
Antonyms of craven include brave, courageous, valiant.
Clusters with cowardly, timid, fainthearted, and pusillanimous in Sentence Equivalence. Antonyms brave, courageous, and valiant describe the opposite.
Yes. Craven is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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