Synonyms of chicken

chicken 1 of 2

noun

ˈchi-kᵊn 

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

• coward
• funk
• craven
• snake
• cur
• sissy
• poltroon
• dastard
• pussy
• cream puff
• recreant
• ostrich
• defeatist
• sneak
• weakling
• wimp
• quitter
• milquetoast
• caitiff
• pushover
• scaramouch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hero
• stalwart
• valiant
• daredevil

chicken

2 of 2

adjective

1

as in yellow

having or showing a shameful lack of courage

too chicken to go through with the stunt

Synonyms & Similar Words

• yellow
• afraid
• scared
• frightened
• cowardly
• careful
• chickenhearted
• pusillanimous
• spineless
• craven
• milk-livered
• gutless
• dastardly
• chicken-livered
• unheroic
• poltroon
• recreant
• timid
• lily-livered
• fearful
• weak
• cautious
• timorous
• wary
• feeble
• diffident
• fainthearted
• bashful
• coy
• shy
• unmanly
• soft

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brave
• daring
• stout
• heroic
• courageous
• hardy
• fearless
• gallant
• valiant
• intrepid
• bold
• gutsy
• stalwart
• cheeky
• brazen
• dauntless
• valorous
• audacious
• spirited
• lionhearted
• spunky
• doughty
• plucky
• stouthearted
• greathearted
• nervy
• determined
• resolute

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

• nominal
• slight
• tiny
• petty
• peanut
• pimping
• Mickey Mouse
• trivial
• minute
• piddling
• insignificant
• trifling
• negligible
• inconsequential
• niggling
• footling
• inconsiderable
• paltry
• picayune
• measly
• no-account
• de minimis
• piffling
• piddly
• little
• puny
• inferior
• imperceptible
• mean
• small-fry
• inappreciable
• one-horse
• pettifogging
• two-bit
• hairsplitting
• quibbling
• nitpicking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• big
• important
• considerable
• significant
• substantial
• serious
• material
• outstanding
• consequential
• prominent
• striking
• remarkable
• conspicuous
• weighty
• noteworthy
• pivotal
• appreciable
• measurable
• eventful
• momentous
• discernible

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chicken

Noun

Jump to Nutrition Facts Snuggled on a sheet pan with squash, red onion, and walnuts, bone-in chicken breasts take a little longer to cook than boneless. — Emily Paster, Midwest Living, 18 Aug. 2026

Like ham, deli chicken is made from pieces of chicken that are pressed together while cooking. — Anna Dilger, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

Beans, eggs, chicken, tuna, steak, salami, or cheese can turn the salad into a full meal. — Lillian Syme, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026

Fort Worth Animal Control took possession of the dead chickens and dog. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing chicken

• Chicken Little
• chicken feed