chicken (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicken (out)
Verb
  • In addition to ending several college deals and its on-field NFL pact, Under Armour backed out of an agreement to outfit MLB and paid a penalty.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Payton and Brady, once Plan A for the Dolphins, backed out of coming and hiring Mike McDaniel became Plan B. The NFL investigated Flores’ allegation that Ross offered money to lose games.
    Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Swalwell draws parallels between his father’s principled stand against corruption as a police chief and his own refusal to back down, framing resistance as a moral imperative learned from his upbringing[1][3].
    Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
  • At the moment, neither appears willing to back down.
    Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • About 20 minutes later, the two cops out in front were joined by a third officer.
    Melody Chiu, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
  • The judges avoid giving critiques to the girls this week but do talk among one another, which is kind of weird but also means that nobody gets to cop out of Rate-a-Queen and just imitate the judges.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • These thick, long-lasting steamers will never wimp out mid-shower, and the cute packaging sure doesn't hurt either.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 16 Mar. 2025
  • There is a chance that central banks will wimp out and blink, and not be willing to fight inflation.
    Nouriel Roubini, Time, 13 Oct. 2022
Verb
  • There has never been reason to think, and there certainly is no reason to think now, that appeasing Putin is going to lead to him backing off from these grander schemes.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Creighton rebounded a UConn miss with about 7 seconds left and a 7-point lead, and the Huskies backed off, allowing the Bluejays to dribble out the clock.
    Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Chicken (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicken%20%28out%29. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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