chickenhawk

Farmer's aerial threat

Chickenhawk has two distinct meanings in American usage.

The first is a bird of prey that hunts chickens, such as a Cooper's hawk or red-tailed hawk.

The second is a political slur for someone who advocates for war or aggressive military action but avoided military service themselves: The senator was called a chickenhawk for pushing intervention despite his draft deferments.

A third, slang sense refers to an older man who pursues much younger sexual partners, especially underage boys.

war-hypocrisy

warmonger

Advocate for armed conflict

jingoistic · saber-rattling · pro-war · hawkish · militarist · hypocrite · deferment · Vietnam · Iraq · pundit

bird

raptor

Hunting bird with talons

  • talonsHooked bird claws
  • preyAnimal being hunted
  • hawkTaloned predatory bird

falcon · kestrel · accipiter · plumage · feathers · beak · wingspan · soaring · gliding · perch

predatory-slang

predator

Organism that consumes others

victim · abuse · manipulation · targeting · vulnerability · coercion · slang · pejorative

Categories
Opposites
military advocacy vs. service consistency

chickenhawkcombat veteran

Person with battlefield experience

war hero · decorated veteran · Purple Heart recipient · enlisted man · conscientious objector

hawkishness vs. dovishness

chickenhawkdove

Gentle cooing bird

pacifist · peace activist · peacenik · conscientious objector · peace advocate

predator vs. prey

chickenhawkchicken

Domestic fowl for eating

songbird · game bird · poultry · quarry · grouse

Family

chicken, chick, chickens, chickened, chickening, hatchling, goshawk, sparrowhawk, chicken hawk

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Mostly American · Timeless · Negative · Rated PG-13