chicken 1 of 2

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

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 inspector noted two containers of chicken held at an unsafe temperature, a dirty ice machine and fried shrimp not labeled with the preparation and discard date. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025 This enclosed back segment of the property could work for raising chickens and other small farm animals —away from the main house. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025 Economy passengers can expect free meals featuring options like chicken with Japanese curry or a fish fillet with a herb-caper cream sauce, along with a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025 Cook for 2 to 4 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce thickens slightly. Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
  • So this coward had to fire from outside of the church, through the church windows and into the church.
    Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • According to Boxing called Davis a coward for his decision.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Native viburnums, such as Arrowwood and Blackhaw, show off red, yellow and purple foliage in the fall, along with berries that also become winter bird feeders.
    Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025
  • In late summer, stop watering and when the leaves start to yellow, cut them about 2 inches above the bulb.
    Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Is this the flipside of a higher nominal-growth metabolism across the world?
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
  • On the eve of World War I, Britain’s total debt, in nominal pounds, was about the same as 1819.
    Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • When people aren’t afraid to flag phishing emails, report missteps or question suspicious behavior, organizations become more adaptive and resilient.
    Aliasgar Dohadwala, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • According to new research from SoFi, 44% of students and parents feel uninformed about student loans but are probably too afraid to ask questions.
    Brian Walsh, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Barefoot driving is legal in all 50 states, with the one slight exception being Alabama where footwear is required on motorcycles.
    Georgea Kovanis, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Mail-in voting is now more popular among Democrats In the 2008 presidential election, there was only a slight difference in the popularity of mail-in voting by political party, according to a data analysis by Charles Stewart, director of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab.
    Carlie Procell, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Families are scared of being torn apart.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Ain’t nobody scared of them boys.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • And in the case of this particular tiny home, the Timberline model by Amazon brand Allwood, that picture-perfect retreat is just a click away.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2025
  • So pack that sunscreen, toss a floppy hat into your weekend bag, and get ready to sip fruity drinks with tiny umbrellas.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Using towels and a garden hose fitted with a piece of wood, the rescuers guided the frightened kitten through the winding pipes.
    Ronnie Li, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
  • When 17 children from one classroom inexplicably run out into the night, a frightened insular community starts pointing fingers at their young schoolteacher (Julia Garner) and the sole survivor, Alex (Cary Christopher).
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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