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
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Recent Examples of chicken
Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 25 Jan. 2026
Scatter the spinach over the sauce, then arrange the frozen chicken dumplings on top.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026
Free-roaming chickens perch in trees and loiter on patios.
—Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 22 Jan. 2026
Chicken and Dumplings Soup combines savory chicken broth, green onions, crushed red pepper, green peas, soy sauce, and wontons to create a mouthwatering soup that works well as a side dish or a main course.
—Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Noun
Bread chicken cutlets, give them a quick fry, then slide them into a baking dish.
—Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 25 Jan. 2026
Scatter the spinach over the sauce, then arrange the frozen chicken dumplings on top.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026
Free-roaming chickens perch in trees and loiter on patios.
—Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 22 Jan. 2026
Chicken and Dumplings Soup combines savory chicken broth, green onions, crushed red pepper, green peas, soy sauce, and wontons to create a mouthwatering soup that works well as a side dish or a main course.
—Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
-
Please do not take the coward’s way.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And Trump calls ’em almost like cowards.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The amber hue of the beaded chokers acts as a neutral color against the lapis-blue top, emulating a similar warmth to the yellow-gold pendant to tie the accessories together.—
Abby Morgan Lebet,
Glamour,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The skin ripens to bright yellow with green stripes, and the flesh has a pink hue.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Fines can range from a nominal fee to a hefty chunk of change.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Trump said on Thursday that the rate should be two to three percentage points lower—such low nominal rates have historically tended to accompany periods of weak or slowing economic activity.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s no need to fret about sticking to a rigid routine (which is probably more practical with older kids), and your kids aren’t afraid to come up with new plans and ideas at the last minute.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In nondemocratic regimes, senior officials wall themselves off from reality because their underlings are afraid to deliver bad news.—
Donald Moynihan,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But because this all unfolded early on a Saturday morning, and oil-futures trading doesn’t open until Sunday evening, investors had a slight buffer.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
-
With an emphasis on energy management thanks to the uptick in electrical power, the introduction of active aerodynamics and a slight reduction in the size and weight of the cars, the drivers have found the new challenge refreshing.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Children are particularly vulnerable due to their smaller size and natural reaction when scared.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Children of color are scared to be out on the streets and in their cars.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In 2018, the company had a viral moment when Catherine’s sister-in-law, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, wore their jeans at a public event, setting off a frenzy that spiked demand and overwhelmed the tiny operation of around 20 employees at the time.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Her subsequent eviction from the Beguines leads to her accepting the Bishop’s offer of sanctuary—as an anchorite, destined to live out her days in a tiny stone outcropping.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The student’s grandmother, who also lived in the home and was caring for the infant, was too frightened to pick up the older child at school, so officials scrambled to find the child’s uncle.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Firefighters immediately arrived at the scene and pulled frightened residents from windows, stairwells, and elevator shafts as the building erupted into flames.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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