as in to back out
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken (out)
Verb
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Buda’s best friend had vowed to join him, but backed out at the last minute.—
Sean Williams,
Outside,
27 Oct. 2025 -
After trimming a 17-point third quarter deficit to 12 to start the fourth quarter, Kerr sent the starters back out to begin the fourth quarter.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is not backing down in its fight against National Public Radio.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Examples include huge catching nets, or docking with stray objects to force them back down into Earth's atmosphere.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On Thursday, there were 652 officers on the force, with nearly 100 cops out on some kind of administrative or medical leave.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Aug. 2025
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But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.—
Maris Kreizman,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Some plants wimp out when temperatures soar—but not these heat-tolerant perennials.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
6 June 2025
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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
Verb
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Benioff clarified his National Guard comments in subsequent days leading up to Dreamforce, without backing off his long-running concerns over public safety.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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The latter was looking to win a throw off the former with his clearance, but Aaronson managed to divert it back off the defender for a Leeds ball.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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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 31 Oct. 2025.
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