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
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
In this game of high-stakes chicken with one side waiting for the other to blink, Stafford’s compensation will be determined before eggs retreat from their lofty prices.
—Jay Paris, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Some medications are in development, but nothing can cure chickens with bird flu.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
Customers were 'like family' Frontier Airlines launches nonstop service from CT airport with fares as low as $49
Popular fast food chicken chain applies for permit to open another location in CT
Winter storm watch issued for parts of CT.
—Mark Maglio, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Noun
The lawsuit includes other examples that purport to show this happening with ham, chicken, pork and cheese at various Publix stores.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
In this game of high-stakes chicken with one side waiting for the other to blink, Stafford’s compensation will be determined before eggs retreat from their lofty prices.
—Jay Paris, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Some medications are in development, but nothing can cure chickens with bird flu.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
Customers were 'like family' Frontier Airlines launches nonstop service from CT airport with fares as low as $49
Popular fast food chicken chain applies for permit to open another location in CT
Winter storm watch issued for parts of CT.
—Mark Maglio, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
-
The Real Madrid forward reportedly referred to Messi and his teammates as cowards for retreating to the dressing room after Brazilian police attacked a section of Argentine fans.—
Felipe Cardenas,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The employees are spoiled and the investors are cowards.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
The New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
-
In addition to selling yellow mustard and hot sauce, the division makes ketchup, onion flavorings and other products.—
Nick Turner,
Bloomberg.com,
19 July 2017
Adjective
-
Howe used four different left-backs last term, mainly fielding Dan Burn there (a nominal centre-back at 6ft 7in/201cm), while Newcastle were the most one-sided team in the league for crosses — over 60 per cent came from the right.—
Liam Tharme,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Out of all of the foreign investment sources that have pumped cash into South Florida real estate, financial institutions, and new businesses over the years, Saudi Arabia is a nation that at best has a nominal presence in the region.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Don’t be afraid to geek out: The happiest people don’t play it cool.—
Jessica Weiss, Contributor,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2025
-
This person spoke anonymously, afraid of reprisal for talking about the system.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The bill released Saturday will fund the government through Sept. 30 and provide a slight boost to defense spending while making a moderate cut to non-defense programs.—
Deirdre Walsh,
NPR,
8 Mar. 2025
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Sugarcane honey is a concentrated form of sugarcane juice that has a slight licorice taste and a touch of bitterness.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
For people fresh out of school, my advice as a lawyer is, don’t be scared to seek counsel but above all, don’t be scared to ask for things.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
4 Mar. 2025
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And people who are scared are less likely to want to stay here.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
My worst days were spent being transported to the courtroom shackled and isolated in a tiny cage, waiting to be summoned into trial.—
James L. Dold,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Acupuncture and the tiny sugar pellets of homeopathy.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
And this week, there’s a very nice sequence in which Matty walks a frightened Zoey, step-by-step, through what to expect when she gets arrested.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Igor tries to subdue Ani, who's frightened and enraged, kicking and screaming at the prospect of being separated from her new husband.—
Mandalit del Barco,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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