0 the quality of being extremely cowardly (= not brave):
The situation is made worse by the cravenness of politicians in refusing to tackle it.
Ministerial cravenness has destroyed what was left of police morale.
The cravenness of successive governments has been shown in their unwillingness to make any decisions contrary to the interests of the super-rich.
We should beg divine forgiveness for our cravenness, our cowardice in the face of bullies like Stalin and Hitler.
This absurd controversy has rumbled on, producing endless supplies of cravenness, buck-passing, hypocrisy and deceit.