Craven
/ˈkreɪvən/
adjectivenounC2
Definition
Craven describes a person or behavior that is very fearful and lacks bravery. It means someone who avoids danger or hard situations because they are too scared. As a noun, it means a cowardly person.
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See It in Action
Adjective: Showing extreme fear and lack of courage
- •The craven soldier ran away from the battle.
- •It was a craven act to abandon your friends in danger.
- •She gave a craven apology, not really standing up for herself.
Noun: A person who is very cowardly
- •He is a craven who never faces his problems.
- •Don’t be a craven; stand up for what you believe in.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "craven" like "scared" (A1 word), but much stronger—like someone who runs away from any challenge or danger
- ✓Picture a small animal hiding completely when it hears a loud noise, too afraid to come out
- ✓It’s the feeling when you want to help but are too scared to do anything, and you feel ashamed
- ✓Sounds like "CRAVE-in" → imagine someone craving (wanting) safety so much that they never face fear
- ✓Think of stories where a character is called a coward because they never stand up for themselves or others
- ✓NOT like "afraid" (normal fear everyone feels); "craven" is extreme fear that stops action
- ✓NOT like "brave" (courageous and strong); "craven" is the opposite, showing weakness and fear
- ✓NOT like "timid" (shy or nervous but can still try); "craven" means no courage at all, giving up completely
Try Other Words
- •Cowardly: showing fear and lack of courage (Use when describing behavior that is weak or fearful)
- •Fearful: feeling afraid (Use when focusing more on the feeling than the person’s character)
- •Timid: shy and nervous (Use when the fear is mild and not as strong as craven)
- •Pusillanimous: very weak and afraid (Use in very formal or literary contexts for extreme cowardice)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: No clear parts; "craven" is a whole word from old English
- •Etymology: From Old French "cravant," meaning defeated or beaten, from Latin "crepare" meaning to rattle or break
- •Historical development: Used since Middle Ages to describe defeated or cowardly people in battle
- •Modern usage: Rare in everyday speech; mostly used in literature, formal speech, or to strongly criticize cowardice
Reflect & Connect
•Can fear ever be a good reason to act in a craven way, or is it always negative?
•How does calling someone "craven" affect how others see them and how they see themselves?
Fill in the blanks
1.The soldier’s craven behavior caused his team to ___ trust and respect.
2.Feeling craven, she avoided the challenge because she was too ___ to try.
3.Unlike a brave hero, a craven person often ___ from difficult situations.
4.When he acted craven, he ___ the chance to show courage.
5.The word craven is stronger than just "scared" because it means no ___ at all.
6.People who are craven usually ___ responsibility and hide from problems.
7.In stories, a craven villain might ___ fear but never fight fairly.