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
Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Many restaurant versions cook the chicken in a tandoor, a traditional clay oven, which can take over an hour, not including several hours for marinating.
—Kate Williams, AJC.com, 13 Apr. 2026
But the chicken chain wound up reversing course.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 13 Apr. 2026
Leaderboard Michael Dixon was appointed CFO of Zaxby's, a fast-casual chain that specializes in chicken, beginning March 30.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Noun
Bring the restaurant home with this hearty chicken dinner.
—Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Many restaurant versions cook the chicken in a tandoor, a traditional clay oven, which can take over an hour, not including several hours for marinating.
—Kate Williams, AJC.com, 13 Apr. 2026
But the chicken chain wound up reversing course.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 13 Apr. 2026
Leaderboard Michael Dixon was appointed CFO of Zaxby's, a fast-casual chain that specializes in chicken, beginning March 30.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
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Time constraints once again strike here, but there’s also the fact that the movie drops the plot’s true twist — that Grace is a coward — only a few minutes before.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
John Cornyn is a coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster to pass this bill.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In several of the photos, Hailey could be seen wearing a vintage 1998 Christian Dior silk banana yellow and hot pink slip dress.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
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Offered in white or yellow gold, the limited edition features an incredible tableau of a panther caught in the rain.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Based on the two Argentines’ limited head-to-head history on the Challengers circuit — all three meetings had been won by Burrachaga in three sets — the son of one of his country’s most famous soccer players was the nominal favorite.—
Dale Robertson,
Houston Chronicle,
4 Apr. 2026
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The lawsuit alleges Freeman Funeral Home accepted the baby’s remains for a nominal $500 fee but never followed through on its promise to provide him with a proper Christian burial.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Weeks later, the Flyers removed the interim tag from Briere, hired Keith Jones as team president and were officially in a rebuild — and not afraid of using the word.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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This is an unsparing portrait of addiction, but isn’t afraid to show moments of joy or tenderness, or what’s cool and interesting in this particular youth culture.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Meanwhile, walnuts lend a slight crunch throughout.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
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Cloud cover is forecasted to stick around all day, and temperatures are likely to top out in the low 80s this afternoon with a slight breeze from the south.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Please don’t feel scared, feel proud.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Were the Nuggets running scared from their rivals?—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Whether still or striding, tiny or outsized, Giacometti’s elongated, upright figures persist as some of the most recognizable works of the post-World War Two era.—
Ara H. Merjian,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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More than a toy, this plush companion acts as a surrogate mom after the tiny primate was rejected by his own mother, Kamaria, a first-time parent unable to form a maternal bond.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Soapy Water Stink bugs tend to drop when frightened, so fill a cup with soapy water and hold it under the stink bug.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
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Their height and heft frightened and thrilled spectators, earning dinosaurs a permanent place in the public imagination, Coules said.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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