as in to back out
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken (out)
Verb
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After the Cubs hit a pair of back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-1 lead, Counsell sent Palencia back out for the sixth to face Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025 -
Or might a loss at Carolina next Sunday immediately spring open that pen and let the wolves back out full-throated?—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The White House backed down, but Nixon’s directive had been recorded.—
Douglas M. Charles,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
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Kimmel is once again on the air throughout the country now that rebellious affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair have backed down and agreed to resume airing his ABC late-night show after a weeklong standoff.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
2 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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Without their back pressure, defencemen need to back off and give the opposing rush space to avoid getting beat.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Yes, the members of season 27’s cast are almost all playing the game poorly, backing off from big moves out of fear or changing their minds at the last moment to vote out their own allies.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
27 Sep. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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