chicken 1 of 2

Definition of chickennext
as in coward
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger a staunch hawk during the drumbeat for war, he proved to be a chicken when it came to actually fighting it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chicken

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chicken
Noun
The chicken chain served its final meal at the location a few weeks ago after more than 40 years in that building, city planning documents indicate. Jenna Thompson june 22, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026 Add lean protein like chicken or fish to your pasta instead of fattier meats. Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 22 June 2026 Our chicken piccata recipe brings all the best parts of the tangy, deliciously saucy restaurant dish to your table. Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026 Everett & Jones’ brisket cooks for 15 to 17 hours, ribs for 5 to 7 hours, and chicken less than that, White said. Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
  • Fishback showed up at a Donalds campaign event in Lake City on Saturday with a bunch of supporters, shouting through a bullhorn that Donalds was a coward for not debating him and telling him to go back to New York, a reference to Donalds’ childhood in Brooklyn.
    Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026
  • Tyland may have gotten Triarchy pirate Admiral Sharako Lohar on Team Green’s side, but at his core this man is a coward.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • This butter-yellow tunic feels cheerful, airy, and incredibly chic for summer.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026
  • Neon blue airbrushing radiated off a sunshine-yellow base, while hot pink auras stood in stark contrast to white French tips.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Tyumen refinery, one of the country's most modern and complex, has a nominal capacity of around 8 million metric tons per year.
    Ron Popeski, USA Today, 20 June 2026
  • Self-park options are available for overnight guests for a nominal fee, and the hotel is dog-friendly (no additional fee).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • That's the part so many seem afraid to say out loud.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
  • The people who worked for cooperatives were particularly afraid.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Emmys’ producers passing up on even the slightest possibility of a Werner Herzog acceptance speech is sheer lunacy.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 20 June 2026
  • The team has improved so much that its 1-1 draw against powerhouse Brazil was a slight disappointment.
    David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • Still, farmworkers across the country are scared to go to work.
    Lisa Meierotto, The Conversation, 22 June 2026
  • In Utah, doctors continue to reassure scared patients and lobby for better public health policy.
    Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • Merlin, a 2-year-old duck, has taken the internet by storm, captivating fans with his tiny form-fitting Team Mexico jersey and confident waddle around his home of Mexico City.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • Providing indefinite joy for the price of just one night at a hotel, this Instagram-worthy blow-up shelter is practically a portable tiny home that sets up within a few minutes.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Even young raccoons can bite or scratch when frightened, and wild animals can carry parasites and diseases, says Rakestraw.
    Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 20 June 2026
  • When customers are frustrated, frightened, confused or considering leaving, those become high-risk moments.
    Demetri Giannikopoulos, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on chicken

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster