chicken 1 of 2

Definition of chickennext
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

chicken

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chicken
Noun
Once it’s built, the day-to-day of how to raise chickens for eggs is lighter than people expect. Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 The chicken and the egg come into existence instantaneously and simultaneously. Peter Gosselin, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 With menus inspired by the seasons, rotating dishes, bold flavors and comforting classics adorn the menu, like their famous crispy fried chicken and their shrimp and grits. Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 To do this, Consumer Reports determined the sodium content, compared the chicken’s weight to its label and even observed the levels of plastics in the packaging and meat. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
  • That’s the sign of a true coward.
    Maria Bamford, Vulture, 23 June 2026
  • Fishback showed up at a Donalds campaign event in Lake City on Saturday with a bunch of supporters, shouting through a bullhorn that Donalds was a coward for not debating him and telling him to go back to New York, a reference to Donalds’ childhood in Brooklyn.
    Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • Green means habitable, yellow means moderately damaged, and red signifies that the building is unsafe.
    Max Saltman, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • Hot and even moderately hot pans will scorch the 10% resin content, turning it brown or yellow.
    Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Los Angeles stretches its NL West lead to 11 games and maintains MLB’s best record as Ohtani’s star power turns Sacramento’s nominal home crowd into a roaring Dodgers road show.
    Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • The model produces outputs within nominal parameters, but those outputs reflect market conditions that are seconds or minutes stale.
    Lev Yatsemyrskyi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • That's the part so many seem afraid to say out loud.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
  • The people who worked for cooperatives were particularly afraid.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • There's a marginal risk of severe weather near the Twin Cities, with a slight risk in the central and northwestern part of the state.
    Adam Del Rosso, CBS News, 27 June 2026
  • Man, to see that Curaçao player — in a moment that’s quite important to him, that is earned over so many years of effort — give a slight nod to the invisible man, that warms my heart and brings a smile to my face.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Humans are scared of him, so Nero becomes Rocco’s favorite thief.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 26 June 2026
  • People are very scared of being human.
    Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Merlin, a 2-year-old duck, has taken the internet by storm, captivating fans with his tiny form-fitting Team Mexico jersey and confident waddle around his home of Mexico City.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • Providing indefinite joy for the price of just one night at a hotel, this Instagram-worthy blow-up shelter is practically a portable tiny home that sets up within a few minutes.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Rodríguez acknowledged that many remain too frightened to return home even after inspections declared some buildings safe.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026
  • Some days are spent inside an Ebola Treatment Unit caring for patients who are frightened, isolated, and desperately ill.
    Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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