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
  • When the bidding escalated beyond his threshold, Baffert’s money man backed out, but the trainer, too far gone on the horse, kept raising his hand.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Global temperatures could overshoot targets in the short term, so long as enough carbon was eventually sucked back out of the air to bring those temperatures back down.
    — Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of back out
Verb
  • The front would lift progressively and settle back down without slamming.
    — Kevin Fanady, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Don’t back down from the rain Sam and Jasmin’s wedding day started out a bit drizzly, a rarity for early summer in Istanbul.
    — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of back down
Verb
  • Lozano Garita said as he was led by cops out of the 101st Precinct stationhouse Tuesday afternoon to be arraigned in Queens Criminal Court.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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
  • German automakers are petitioning Berlin and the European Union to back off electric vehicle targets.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Territorial Dominance When smaller birds back off from a confrontation and cede their spot at the feeder, blue jays look even more hostile.
    — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 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 Nov. 2026.

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