as in coward
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in yellow
having or showing a shameful lack of courage
too chicken to go through with the stunt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
just concentrate on the important duties of the job and forget about the chicken stuff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of chicken
Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2025
Chicken Liver Protein: 20.8 grams per 3-ounce serving Organ meats, like chicken liver, are high in protein.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 14 Apr. 2025
Since the current bird flu outbreak began, more than 168 million birds have been slaughtered, most of them egg-laying chickens.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
Now, 35 years after opening the doors, owner Tom Sasser and his teams are still frying up the chicken strips that made me — and a lot of Charlotte — a believer.
—Deanna Taylor, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Noun
Place chicken in large bowl and season with 1 1/2 teaspoons each salt and pepper.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2025
Chicken Liver Protein: 20.8 grams per 3-ounce serving Organ meats, like chicken liver, are high in protein.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 14 Apr. 2025
Since the current bird flu outbreak began, more than 168 million birds have been slaughtered, most of them egg-laying chickens.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
Now, 35 years after opening the doors, owner Tom Sasser and his teams are still frying up the chicken strips that made me — and a lot of Charlotte — a believer.
—Deanna Taylor, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
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There is no way a coward like Musk is in a position to accuse Sen. Kelly of being a traitor.—
DP Opinion,
The Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2025
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This is a cop novel that fully satisfies its genre expectations — chases, gun battles, sinister bad guys, questionable cops, cowards and heroes.—
Claude Peck,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The look features bright coral eyeshadow covering the eyelid, a fuchsia shade in the crease, and a swipe of fluorescent yellow eyeliner on the outside half of the eye and right under the brow.—
Andrea Park,
Teen Vogue,
20 July 2017
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Three prominent Austin chefs teamed up with the Youngblood family to build a new restaurant from scratch that looks like a legacy chicken dinner house, down to the bright blue-and-yellow colors and the helpings of hot yeast rolls with honey.—
Bud Kennedy,
star-telegram,
19 July 2017
Adjective
-
As the Signal chats showed, there are differences of opinion within Trump’s national-security team, and much more serious friction with the administration’s nominal allies in Europe.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
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The new duties raise the nominal U.S. tariff rate on China to 54%.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Give it up for the queen of not being afraid to reference or not reference (but mostly reference).—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
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If you’re seated at a gate where the next flight doesn’t leave for six hours, don’t be afraid to post up and get comfy.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Not when your opponent is spending its each and every waking moment scouring film for even the slightest advantage.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2025
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Five of the Fed’s districts saw slight growth in economic activity, four districts had slight to modest declines and three reported relatively unchanged trends since the central bank’s previous release in early March.—
Melissa Repko,Michael Wayland,Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Bears should be hoping other teams are scared off by Campbell’s shorter-than-ideal arms.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
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But much of the problem then was that Europeans were simply not scared enough to do their part.—
Barry R. Posen,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Follicle cysts form when the tiny sac (called a follicle) that houses the maturing egg during your cycle doesn’t break open as usual to release said egg.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2025
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Because of the unique position of the pope, a cleric with his own tiny state and significant global influence, the book is also a chronicle of contemporary international affairs.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
When a deputy arrived, the victim was shaking and frightened, the complaint said.—
Dylan Gentile,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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The next night, her sister Gwen said Selonia became frightened when a relative who was visiting Selonia spotted Jimmy Ray Barnes near her home.—
Vladimir Duthiers, Paul LaRosa,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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