chickenhearted

adjective

ˈchi-kən-ˌhär-təd How to pronounce chickenhearted (audio)
Definition of chickenheartednext
as in afraid
having or showing a shameful lack of courage too chickenhearted to speak up, even though she knew a terrible injustice was being committed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chickenhearted
  1. afraid
  2. frightened
  3. yellow
  4. pusillanimous
  5. scared
  6. craven
  7. careful
  8. cowardly
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said all three women knew Lux by name and appearance, and one reported more than 50 encounters that authorities said escalated over time, eventually leaving employees afraid to work around him.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • But defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and LBs coach Shaun Dion Hamilton aren’t afraid to play rookies.
    — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • Witnesses are often too frightened of the cartels to testify in court.
    — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • When Odysseus’ men arrive at Circe’s home, hungry, asking to be fed, Circe seems frightened — understandably so.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • The threshold in such circumstances should be much higher, so the VAR only intervenes if the challenge merits a yellow or red card.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • With colors like lilac, pink, red, blue, yellow, and black, there is a Sproos for every personality and every space.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of yellow
Adjective
  • Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country.
    — A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of pusillanimous
Adjective
  • Well, Martha, look, Republicans, my party, has got to be scared, and especially some very good members of Congress who otherwise might deserve re-election are weighed down by the following.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
  • Instead, too many are running scared and pleading for protection.
    — Craig Garthwaite, Fortune, 24 July 2026
Definition of scared
Adjective
  • Not an inspiration for craven pundits and politicians to use players as divisive avatars.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • In 2024, The Onion purchased Infowars, the conspiracy website born of the craven lunatic/Sandy Hook shooting denier Alex Jones.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of craven
Adjective
  • But the series is careful to cast suspicions in a multitude of directions, not merely at Michael but at several people in Sarah’s orbit who only reveal themselves when backed into corners.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 July 2026
  • Since pilot and crew remains may also still be buried underground, careful excavation work is even more important.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 July 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Nikki is critical of the latter, calling it selfish and cowardly.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Or maybe the problem is Cape Fear itself for being too cowardly to commit to the certainty that drove the previous versions of this story.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of cowardly
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.

Browse Nearby Words

chicken feed
chickenhearted
chickening (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Chickenhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chickenhearted. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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