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
• small-fry
• mean
• 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

Yaga reimagines the witch, who is known to live in a hut on chicken legs and potentially is a murderous seductress or powerful enchantress, depending on the author of the tale. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

Its chicken salad scoop options include the Olivia’s Old South (sweet pickles and egg), Jalapeño Holly (with jalapeños), Nutty Nanna (with pecans and cashews), and Barbie Q. — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026

Buckwheat ravioli filled with Prà Fiorito cheese and Swiss chard celebrated local artisanal ingredients, while a refined chicken cacciatore demonstrated impressive restraint. — Vicki Power, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026

The flavors of premium white meat chicken, garlic and basil were clear and distinct. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing chicken

• Chicken Little
• chicken feed