as in cowards
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger
a staunch hawk during the drumbeat for war, he proved to be a chicken when it came to actually fighting it
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Recent Examples of chickens
This enclosed back segment of the property could work for raising chickens and other small farm animals —away from the main house.
—
David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Jimmy Novy grew up on a farm with corn, cattle and chickens in Wisconsin’s smallest municipality.
—Tom Kertscher, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
The city had 33 calls about backyard chickens last year, and this year that number was already at 43 by the start of August, Bugg said during a past meeting.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Daskalakis was disturbed by Kennedy’s comments that chickens that survive H5N1 bird flu are genetically superior and that the stronger children who get measles will survive.
—Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The sitter was responsible for watering the garden and houseplants, feeding and caring for three cats, a Labrador named Trip, and a flock of chickens, geese, and 11 baby chicks.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Your cat, chickens, or canary could get into trouble or run out of food and water.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
Different brands and stores likely have chickens with varying levels of sodium.
—Khloe Quill, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
Janelle Brown is mourning the loss of one of her family’s chickens.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Jimmy Novy grew up on a farm with corn, cattle and chickens in Wisconsin’s smallest municipality.
—Tom Kertscher, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
The city had 33 calls about backyard chickens last year, and this year that number was already at 43 by the start of August, Bugg said during a past meeting.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Daskalakis was disturbed by Kennedy’s comments that chickens that survive H5N1 bird flu are genetically superior and that the stronger children who get measles will survive.
—Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The sitter was responsible for watering the garden and houseplants, feeding and caring for three cats, a Labrador named Trip, and a flock of chickens, geese, and 11 baby chicks.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Your cat, chickens, or canary could get into trouble or run out of food and water.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
Different brands and stores likely have chickens with varying levels of sodium.
—Khloe Quill, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
Janelle Brown is mourning the loss of one of her family’s chickens.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chickens
cowards
Noun
-
But Democrats look like cowards for fleeing the state.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chickens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chickens. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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