recreant
1 of 2adjective
rec·re·ant ˈre-krē-ənt 
1
: crying for mercy : cowardly
2
: unfaithful to duty or allegiance
recreant
2 of 2noun
1
: coward
2
: apostate, deserter
Synonyms
Adjective
- chicken
- chicken-livered
- chickenhearted
- cowardly
- craven
- dastardly
- gutless
- lily-livered
- milk-livered [archaic]
- poltroon
- pusillanimous
- spineless
- unheroic
- yellow
Noun
- apostate
- defector
- deserter
- renegade
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective the victors had only contempt for the recreant enemy soldiers who surrendered without firing a shot recreant campaign workers who walked out as soon as their candidate began dropping in the polls Noun traditionally armies have dealt harshly with recreants, with execution being a common punishment for desertion during wartime the historian reserved his greatest contempt for those recreants who opposed the witch hunt but lacked the courage to speak out against it
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from present participle of (se) recreire to give up, yield, from Medieval Latin (se) recredere to resign oneself (to a judgment), from Latin re- + credere to believe — more at creed
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
recreants
noun
1
as in deserters
a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right traditionally armies have dealt harshly with recreants, with execution being a common punishment for desertion during wartime Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- deserters
- traitors
- rebels
- insurgents
- renegades
- defectors
- revolutionaries
- traitoresses
- insurrectionaries
- traitresses
- apostates
- come-outers
- revolutionizers
- turnabouts
- quislings
- turncoats
- discontents
- betrayers
- leavers
- double-crossers
- revolters
- defiers
- insurrectionists
- refusniks
- mutineers
- abandoners
- dropouts
- reds
- revolutionists
- refusers
- refuseniks
- recusants
- malcontents
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- supporters
- adherents
- loyalists
- followers
- disciples
- partisans
- militants
- partizans
- fanatics
- zealots
2
as in cowards
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger the historian reserved his greatest contempt for those recreants who opposed the witch hunt but lacked the courage to speak out against it Synonyms & Similar Words
- cowards
- chickens
- cravens
- cream puffs
- sissies
- funks
- dastards
- poltroons
- curs
- snakes
- caitiffs
- defeatists
- sneaks
- pussies
- quitters
- milquetoasts
- weaklings
- wimps
- scaramouches
- ostriches
- pushovers
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heroes
- stalwarts
- daredevils
- valiants
3
as in traitors
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance a spy and recreant to his country Synonyms & Similar Words
- traitors
- double-dealers
- betrayers
- quislings
- turncoats
- backstabbers
- serpents
- snakes
- double-crossers
- apostates
- collaborators
- stool pigeons
- Judases
- subverters
- collaborationists
- conspirators
- subversives
- talebearers
- coconspirators
- snitchers
- renegades
- informants
- intriguers
- accommodationists
- schemers
- plotters
- sellouts
- informers
- defectors
- deserters
- tattlers
- co-conspirators
- gossipers
- gossipmongers
- gossips
- rumormongers
- squealers
- talkers
- snitches
- rats
- tattletales
- blabbermouths
- telltales