chickenhearted

adjective

ˈchi-kən-ˌhär-təd How to pronounce chickenhearted (audio)
Definition of chickenheartednext
as in afraid
having or showing a shameful lack of courage too chickenhearted to speak up, even though she knew a terrible injustice was being committed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chickenhearted
  1. afraid
  2. frightened
  3. yellow
  4. pusillanimous
  5. scared
  6. craven
  7. careful
  8. cowardly
Adjective
  • Trump notched some significant wins, like the end of the old asylum system and a suite of progressive tax cuts, which Democrats are afraid to run against.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • On November 1, King Charles was left umbrella-less in a torrential downpour in Antigua and Barbuda—and wasn’t afraid to show his frustration.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • Defense challenges claims of disruption Sabatini sought to undermine the university’s account by distinguishing between students feeling frightened and actual interruptions to academic activities.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Trust is how that knowledge reaches the next child, and the next frightened mother.
    — Michelle A. Williams, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • In the egg-yolk yellow kitchen, a fresh loaf of sourdough was sitting pretty on the chopping board for us; organic eggs and marmalade on the counter; Daylesford butter, bacon, and rosé in the fridge.
    — Sarah James, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Then, needing to recover an onside kick, the Tar Heels actually came away with it — until a yellow flag was seen on the turf.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of yellow
Adjective
  • Some also have lost lawyers, dismayed by the pusillanimous behavior of their leaders.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country.
    — A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of pusillanimous
Adjective
  • Stiven said his wife feels scared and doesn't want to leave their home, but the couple wants to share what happened to her for one reason.
    — Dawn White, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Otherwise the public realm will grow safer in exactly the wrong way — because people are too scared to use it.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of scared
Adjective
  • Did my eyes widen, revealing a craven journalist ready to pounce on an exclusive?
    — Jason Sheeler, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026
  • She was especially hurt that some of the people who criticized Cox most harshly, dismissing him as craven and disingenuous, were those who had the closest relationships with him.
    — McKay Coppins, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of craven
Adjective
  • There’s that Japanese concept of space and pause—in the wide corridors, the uncluttered lobby, the careful symmetry.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The first step was to tailor it to her size, while being careful to preserve the bespoke construction.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • That was scuttled after the Houthis launched cowardly and deadly attacks on civilian targets in Riyadh and other Saudi Arabian cities.
    — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2026
  • To know that a torture as violent as rape is about to happen ‘upstairs’ and not do ANYTHING ABOUT IT, is sick, cowardly and cold.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of cowardly
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 feed
chickenhearted
chickening (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Chickenhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chickenhearted. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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