chickened
Backed out fearfully
Chickened is the past tense of chicken, used as a verb meaning to lose courage or back out of something from fear.
Almost always appears with out: He was going to ask her to dance but chickened out at the last minute.
The image is of a timid chicken, easily startled into retreat.
- wimped outSurrendered to cowardice
- cavedSurrendered after resistance
- foldedBent upon itself
- crumbledBroke into particles
quailed · cowered · cringed · trembled · balked · flinched · blanched · froze
Retreated from a position
- backed offWithdrew from confrontation
- retreatedMoved backward from advance
- withdrewPulled out or back
- recoiledShrank back suddenly
shrank back · pulled back · stepped back · beat a retreat · turned tail · ran away · fled · bolted
Withdrew from commitment
- bailedScooped water out
- withdrewPulled out or back
- dodgedAvoided by quick movement
- duckedBent down suddenly
sidestepped · evaded · shirked · copped out · punted · demurred · hedged · skirted
Abandoned an attempt
- gave inStopped resisting pressure
- caved inCollapsed or capitulated
- capitulatedCeased resistance, conceded
- yieldedGave way or produced
submitted · conceded · quit · abandoned · forfeited · threw in the towel · relented · acquiesced
lost nerve
- wimped outSurrendered to cowardice
- cavedSurrendered after resistance
- foldedBent upon itself
crumbled · quailed · cowered · cringed · trembled · balked · flinched · blanched · froze · panicked
backed down
Retreated from a position
- backed offWithdrew from confrontation
- retreatedMoved backward from advance
- withdrewPulled out or back
recoiled · shrank back · pulled back · stepped back · beat a retreat · turned tail · ran away · fled · bolted · scarpered
backed out
Withdrew from commitment
ducked · sidestepped · evaded · shirked · copped out · punted · demurred · hedged · skirted · shied away
gave up
Abandoned an attempt
- gave inStopped resisting pressure
- caved inCollapsed or capitulated
- capitulatedCeased resistance, conceded
yielded · submitted · conceded · quit · abandoned · forfeited · threw in the towel · relented · acquiesced · succumbed
- surrenderedsurrendered, capitulated, yielded, conceded, submitted
chickenedbraved
Confronted despite fear
dared · faced · confronted · manned up · stepped up
chickenedfollowed through
Completed what was started
committed · persevered · delivered · doubled down · honored
- chicken soupPoultry-based comfort food
- fried chickenBattered poultry cooked in oil
- chicken wingsFried poultry sections
- chicken nuggetsBreaded fried poultry pieces
- chicken outWithdraw due to fear
- chicken noodle soupPoultry-and-pasta broth dish
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