What does cravening mean?
"Cravening" is the present participle of the uncommon English verb "to craven," which means to act in a cowardly way or to reduce someone to a state of cowardice. The word descends from the adjective "craven," a term that has described shameful timidity since Middle English and ultimately traces back through Anglo-Norman French, though its deeper origins remain debated by etymologists. In practice, "cravening" appears far less often than "craven" itself; when it does occur, it tends to surface in formal prose, political commentary, or literary criticism, where a writer wants to depict an institution or individual capitulating under pressure. Its connotation is uniformly negative, implying not mere caution but a failure of nerve that compromises one's integrity. Readers encountering "cravening" should understand it as the dynamic, verbal face of an old word for cowardice — a description of surrender in progress rather than a settled trait. Because it is rare, it lends a pointed, slightly old-fashioned bite to accusations of timidity.
To behave in a cowardly manner; to yield to fear or pressure.
"The editorial accused the council of cravening before developers."
Rare; often replaced in contemporary writing by phrases such as 'acting in a craven manner'.
To render cowardly; to sap the courage of.
"Years of intimidation had left him cravening at every knock on the door."
The word "craven" has meant cowardly since medieval England — and "cravening" is its rare, living verbal form.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cravening
The verb "to craven" derives from the adjective "craven," which entered Middle English in the medieval period from Anglo-Norman French (compare Old French "cravanté," meaning defeated or dispirited). The ultimate origin is uncertain, though it may be linked to Old Norse. The participle "cravening" follows standard English inflection of this borrowed base.
Related word forms
How cravening is actually used
"Cravening" is rare and somewhat archaic in flavor; most writers today simply use the adjective "craven." It carries a strongly negative connotation of moral weakness and is typically found in formal or literary criticism.
Easily confused with cravening
"Ravening" means rapacious and greedily predatory, while "cravening" relates to cowardice despite their similar sound.
"Craving" denotes an intense desire for something, whereas "cravening" concerns fearful or cowardly behavior.