Thomas Fleming
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Craven and its synonyms dastardly and pusillanimous are all basically fancy words for "cowardly." Don't be afraid to use them—here's a little information to help you recognize the subtle distinctions in their connotations. Craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance. One might speak of "craven yes-men." Dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous, as in this example: "a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians." Pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage, as in "After the attack, one editorialist characterized the witnesses as 'the pusillanimous bystanders.'"
Synonyms
Examples of craven in a Sentence
Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 19 June 2024
On immigration, still a top issue among many voters, Biden’s policies have been a clear failure, and despite Republicans’ craven attempts to keep the problem alive so Trump can run on it, the issue still plagues Democrats.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2024
As society polarized and fragmented and everything got politicized — the NFL, safety pins, low-flow toilets — neutrality came across as craven delusion.
—Michael Serazio, Vox, 29 May 2024
While the book could have ended up as just another craven corporate cross-over, its got a hyperactive spirit rarely present in mainstream American comics noawadays.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for craven 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'craven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Craven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/craven. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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