craven
Abjectly lacking spine
Craven means contemptibly lacking in courage—not merely timid but shamefully so.
A craven act betrays cowardice when bravery was called for: a craven retreat, craven submission to the bully.
The word carries moral judgment: someone craven has failed a test of character.
As a noun, a craven is such a person, though this use is rare.
Person lacking bravery
- cowardlyWithout bravery or nerve
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- poltroonAbject coward
- dastardlyWicked and cowardly
fainthearted · lily-livered · gutless · yellow-bellied · chicken-hearted · recreant · spineless · weak-kneed
Deserving strong disrespect
- despicableMorally worthless, beneath regard
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- ignobleLacking moral character
- dishonorableLacking integrity or ethics
shameful · disgraceful · ignominious · vile · deplorable · reprehensible · low · abject
Full of fright
- afraidExperiencing dread or worry
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- quakingTrembling or shuddering
cowering · petrified · panic-stricken · frightened · apprehensive · timid · skittish · shaken
Domestic fowl for eating
- wimpTimid, feeble person
- scaredy-catOverly timid person
- fraidy-catTimid, easily startled person
- sissyPejorative for effeminate male
wuss · weakling · pansy · yellowbelly · candy-ass · namby-pamby · gutless wonder · coward
Readily yielding to control
- yieldingBending under pressure
- capitulatingCeasing to resist
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
- acquiescentAccepting without resistance
compliant · meek · subservient · deferential · docile · unresisting · passive · defeatist
coward
Person lacking bravery
- cowardlyWithout bravery or nerve
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- poltroonAbject coward
dastardly · fainthearted · lily-livered · gutless · yellow-bellied · chicken-hearted · recreant · spineless · weak-kneed · milksop
contemptible
Deserving strong disrespect
- despicableMorally worthless, beneath regard
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- ignobleLacking moral character
dishonorable · shameful · disgraceful · ignominious · vile · deplorable · reprehensible · low · abject · degraded
fearful
Full of fright
quaking · cowering · petrified · panic-stricken · frightened · apprehensive · timid · skittish · shaken · twitchy
chicken
Domestic fowl for eating
- wimpTimid, feeble person
- scaredy-catOverly timid person
- fraidy-catTimid, easily startled person
sissy · wuss · weakling · pansy · yellowbelly · candy-ass · namby-pamby · gutless wonder · coward · sniveler
submissive
Readily yielding to control
- yieldingBending under pressure
- capitulatingCeasing to resist
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
acquiescent · compliant · meek · subservient · deferential · docile · unresisting · passive · defeatist · quitter