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
Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
Wei from Dumont, N.J. liked the original chicken sandwich, fries and special seasoning but thought it should have been layered more and said the service was quick.
—Gary Stern, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
This makes chicken a smart choice for those who want to maintain optimal blood sugar levels.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 June 2025
One night, the young boy took a piece of chicken from the foster parents’ school-age son.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Noun
Menu items here include Hot Mess Fries (loaded with carne asada, chicken or bacon, cheese and onions), taquitos, poke nachos, tacos, burritos, burgers, beer, wine, cocktails and more.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
Wei from Dumont, N.J. liked the original chicken sandwich, fries and special seasoning but thought it should have been layered more and said the service was quick.
—Gary Stern, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
This makes chicken a smart choice for those who want to maintain optimal blood sugar levels.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 June 2025
One night, the young boy took a piece of chicken from the foster parents’ school-age son.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
-
With rising apprehension, the Cabinet kept deliberating for a couple of days while Sumner did his best to shut down jingoistic rhetoric in the Senate from politicians who demanded that Lincoln not be a coward in the face of Great Britain.—
Zaakir Tameez
June 11,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
-
Because these cowards fear being doxed for their inhumane and unconscionable actions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
The look features bright coral eyeshadow covering the eyelid, a fuchsia shade in the crease, and a swipe of fluorescent yellow eyeliner on the outside half of the eye and right under the brow.—
Andrea Park,
Teen Vogue,
20 July 2017
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Three prominent Austin chefs teamed up with the Youngblood family to build a new restaurant from scratch that looks like a legacy chicken dinner house, down to the bright blue-and-yellow colors and the helpings of hot yeast rolls with honey.—
Bud Kennedy,
star-telegram,
19 July 2017
Adjective
-
Treats and train rides are available for a nominal fee.—
Pomerado News,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2025
-
Presumably, the series can conclude when our nominal adults finally do get grown.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Sydney Sweeney was not afraid to pull punches when playing real-life Christy Martin in the upcoming biopic about the boxer, which wrapped production last November.—
Rance Collins,
IndieWire,
28 June 2025
-
Keep checking in with yourself, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to pivot.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
This was a shift from May, when Democrats had a slight advantage—48 percent planned to support Democrats, while 45 percent leaned toward Republicans, according to the pollster.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
-
Monday saw some dips and slight drops, but the market rebounded and closed up almost 1%.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
With no cell service or any experience with snakes, Wall was scared.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
19 June 2025
-
The story itself is stripped to bone and sinew: a sleepy New England beach town that wants tourist dollars more than truth, an invisible killer in plain water, and three men — one scared sheriff, one cocky scientist, one Ahab of a fisherman — set adrift to settle nature’s score.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Tech has a tiny presence on the Southeast Asia 500, generating just under 3% of the list’s total revenue.—
Lionel Lim,
Fortune,
22 June 2025
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What started as a tiny general store selling locally made goods and sustainable living products has expanded to include a full-service coffee bar and bakery.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, federal authorities are hiding, apparently too frightened of online provocateurs and in-person hecklers to do their duty in plain sight.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
-
Others who live close to the jail were downright frightened.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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