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
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Recent Examples of chicken
Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025
Broody hens also cluck in a low tone, growl at other chickens when approached, and may keep their wings outstretched and their feathers puffed up.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Lira unpacks the boxes filled with cheese, chicken breasts and corn tortillas, storing it all in a walk-in refrigerator.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Topics include: chicken breeds, raising chicks, designing coops and pens, chicken health and nutrition.
—Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Noun
This homemade chicken salad is truly made-from-scratch.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025
Broody hens also cluck in a low tone, growl at other chickens when approached, and may keep their wings outstretched and their feathers puffed up.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Lira unpacks the boxes filled with cheese, chicken breasts and corn tortillas, storing it all in a walk-in refrigerator.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Topics include: chicken breeds, raising chicks, designing coops and pens, chicken health and nutrition.
—Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken
Noun
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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
-
If Republicans refuse to do that, then their constituents can rest assured that their representatives are cowards and liars.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
13 Mar. 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
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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
-
According to expert estimates, India needs to spend around $100 billion per year, or 2.8% of current nominal GDP, to achieve net-zero power sector emissions by 2070.—
Radhika Kak, independent researcher at Harvard Business School and Varad Pande, partner at BCG,
CNBC,
20 Mar. 2025
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Here’s why: Although technical specifications are still being worked out, the new standard could deliver nominal peak data rates of more than 40Gbps.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
While taking your room’s layout and square footage into account, don't be afraid to think outside the box: how can your sitting room function for you?—
Shivani Vyas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Mar. 2025
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Pay attention to your customers, listen closely, and don’t be afraid to test small, strategic changes.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Here, again, there were slight differences in the responses when broken down by party affiliation.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2025
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Like the inclusion of the new music, the omission of the prince storyline shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been paying even the slightest attention to the controversies plaguing the production of Snow White for the past few years.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Most lawyers will be too scared of retaliation to even bring lawsuits challenging Trump’s actions.—
Ian Millhiser,
Vox,
29 Mar. 2025
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The pup, Butter, was filmed in September of last year looking scared and nervous around her new kitty sibling, keeping her distance from the feline and hiding away in her owner's arms, as if terrified of the new addition to the family.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The town, with colorful ochre and salmon-pink structures lining the seafront and tiny piazzas, has preserved its ancient seafaring vibe with an active harbor where fishermen live nearby and prepare for a day at sea.—
Catherine Sabino,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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On the Alabama Gulf Coast, this legendary third-generation beach shack can be found in the tiny town of Elberta and is accessible by boat or car.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Inside, the staff scrambles for cover and a frightened woman and child are seen hiding behind a buffet counter.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
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Staying apolitical in his work, Lynch expressed the personal idiosyncrasy that reflected his upbringing in Midwest America (born in Missoula, Mont., and of Finnish-Danish heritage) as well as his private, frightened knowledge of national terror.—
Armond White,
National Review,
17 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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