chickened (out)

past tense of chicken (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chickened (out)
Verb
  • When Parsons then tried to get his agent involved before putting ink to paper, Jones backed off the deal.
    Jon Machota, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Small and mid-sized countries that were energetically pursuing Security Council reform have backed off and are waiting for a clear signal of what—if anything—Trump will say about it.
    Richard Gowan, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The president backed out of a meeting tentatively planned for Thursday after a top Republican panned the talks.
    Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2025
  • An opportunity arose in the second season, but Martin backed out, according to Vulture.
    Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The agency backed down within two months.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Eventually, the White House and the Treasury backed down.
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry

“Chickened (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chickened%20%28out%29. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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