1. Having deserted a cause or principle
   "some provinces had proved recreant";
   - renegade
    
2. Lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
   "this recreant knight";
   - craven

1. An abject coward
   "He was revealed as a recreant when he abandoned his comrades in battle";
   - poltroon, craven
    
2. A disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
   "The politician was labelled a recreant after switching parties";
   - deserter, apostate, renegade, turncoat, ratter

Derived forms: recreants

See also: cowardly, disloyal, fearful

Type of: chicken [informal], coward, quitter

Encyclopedia: Recreant