chicken (out)

verb

Definition of chicken (out)next
as in to back out

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken (out)
  1. back out
  2. back down
  3. cop out
  4. wimp out
  5. back off
Verb
  • Now, Williams is ready to grow it all back out again — despite her friends telling her how great her short cut looks short.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 9 Oct. 2026
  • And to be clear, there’s no way around the fact that putting him back out there comes with the risk of a more serious, long-term injury.
    — Tashan Reed, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of back out
Verb
  • However, a lack of specifics boiled over after Meta's second-quarter earnings miss and disappointing guidance in late July, sending the stock right back down.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The perception surely irked a man who was just following organizational advice, but Claire never backed down from his role in the deal.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of back down
Verb
  • Strategic shakeup Usually buying and selling is a cop out, but with where the Red Sox are in their competitive cycle the approach might make some sense.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
  • The case highlighted limits in Colorado's police oversight despite significant recent reforms aimed at forcing dishonest cops out of the profession.
    — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 22 May 2026
Definition of cop out
Verb
  • Some plants wimp out when temperatures soar—but not these heat-tolerant perennials.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
  • These thick, long-lasting steamers will never wimp out mid-shower, and the cute packaging sure doesn't hurt either.
    — Annie Blackman, Allure, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of wimp out
Verb
  • Costello almost released his earliest recordings 35 years ago, then backed off.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Down 3-1 in the eighth, Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto went back-to-back off an obscure reliever named Clayton Kershaw … and then that Nationals team, too, went on to win the World Series.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of back off
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.

Browse Nearby Words

chicken-livered
chicken (out)
chickens
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Cite this Entry

“Chicken (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken%20%28out%29. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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