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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in yellow
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
too chicken to go through with the stunt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
just concentrate on the important duties of the job and forget about the chicken stuff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of chicken
Jordan Owens, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
The chain, known for its Southern chicken and biscuits, was founded in 1977 and has more than 800 restaurants across the U.S. and a location in Honduras, according to its website.
—Chase Jordan
october 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
The Southern chain — selling biscuits, sweet tea, chicken sandwiches and more — has roughly 800 locations in 17 states, according to its website.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Trader Joe’s Cajun style blackened chicken breast fettuccine alfredo is also on the list but only affects four states – Texas not included.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Noun
Alana finds joy in feeding cows and pigs, collecting eggs from chickens, and meeting horses and llamas.
—Jordan Owens, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
The chain, known for its Southern chicken and biscuits, was founded in 1977 and has more than 800 restaurants across the U.S. and a location in Honduras, according to its website.
—Chase Jordan
october 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
The Southern chain — selling biscuits, sweet tea, chicken sandwiches and more — has roughly 800 locations in 17 states, according to its website.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Trader Joe’s Cajun style blackened chicken breast fettuccine alfredo is also on the list but only affects four states – Texas not included.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
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We are told that politics is for cowards, literary analysis is for women, education is a system of liberal indoctrination, brave individuals must resist the herd.—
Robert Rubsam,
Vulture,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Punk then made his entrance to confront Lynch, calling Rollins a coward for hiding behind his wife.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Officers have stood guard at the yellow police tape around the clock since Sunday.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Gothic cathedrals, art deco villas, vintage yellow trams, impeccably dressed signore, bright red Negronis glinting in the sun—these are some of the most classic symbols of Milan, but there’s a whole other side to the city, one that’s contemporary, cosmopolitan, and just plain cool.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
AFAR Media,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There's a low nominal cost, but the fact is there was a really significant cost because of the bureaucracy and time and uncertainty, with a lot of companies tied up with it.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
But analysts believe that figure was nominal if anything.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Even with more women 55 and older in the workforce than ever before, women often are afraid to talk about menopause in the office.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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Bohemian homes are never afraid of color, particularly when AD100 designer Justina Blakeney is involved.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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They are made of cotton with a slight stretch, but still have structure in the front.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
7 Oct. 2025
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Herro was an All-Star last year while Ball wasn’t; Herro’s injury gives the Hornets a slight edge in these rankings.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Alolkoy, said despite the bear's small size and obviously scared state, the store quickly erupted in a chaotic scene.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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Are players scared to talk about it publicly?—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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On a soupy September morning in northeast Wisconsin, a blue semi-truck arrives at Tisch Mills Farm Center in the tiny town of Carlton.—
Miranda Dunlap,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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In an ideal world, a tiny home could provide the ideal solution for in-laws to have space to visit your home for extended visits.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Hundreds of frightened residents gathered in a grassy field near the fire station and refused to return home hours after the quake struck Bogo in Cebu province.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
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So stay calm, control your breathing, don’t be frightened.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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