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Glite Dictionary
😨 Cowardly or disloyal 😨 A coward or traitor
recreant

recreant

1 9.9
Not brave and not loyal to friends or causes
  • adjective
  • /ˈrɛkrɪənt/
  • Offensive
translation icon : cobarde
  • The recreant decision to flee rather than fight left the team feeling betrayed.

Examples

  • In the same recreant spirit as JT Adams' call for a more equitably distributed national wealth, he closes the text that "coined" "the American dream" with three related warnings concerning the fate of the United States as seen from the days of Herbert Hoover's administration:

    Academic text (2014)

  • Blaming English commercial avarice as the underlying cause of the war, these journalists mocked Home Rule as a pretense and sham, designed by British lackeys so that the "more foolish and recreant Irish might die for England's glory.

    Academic text (1996)

  • His recreant behavior during the battle disappointed his comrades.

  • Many criticized her recreant attitude for abandoning her friends in their time of need.

Synonyms

renegade
vsrecreant
25 7.9

Having left and betrayed their group

is about disloyal action rather than personal cowardice
craven
vsrecreant
  • Formal
11 8.7

Being very afraid and not willing to face danger

is broader, covering both cowardice and disloyal behavior

Antonyms

brave
906 1.0

Has courage when facing danger, pain or fear

faithful
  • NSFW
120 2.1

Having sex only with your husband, wife, or partner

How Brave

heroic
154 3.8
courageous
157 3.3
brave
906 1.0
recreant
  • Offensive
1 9.9
timid
60 3.5

Surface Forms

recreant positive

Etymology

Recreant comes from older words that meant 'to shrink back' or 'give up', so think of re- as 'back' and creant as 'giving up'. That's why recreant describes someone who is cowardly or not loyal.