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Glite Dictionary
chicken-heartedly

chicken-heartedly

9.1
In a cowardly way that shows no courage
  • adverb
  • /ˌtʃɪkənˈhɑːrtɪdli/
  • Offensive
translation icon : cobardemente
  • She chicken-heartedly backed out of giving her speech at the last moment.

Examples

  • He chicken-heartedly refused to confront his boss about the mistake.

  • He chicken-heartedly backed out of the competition.

  • The team chicken-heartedly avoided any tough questions during the interview.

  • She approached the challenge chicken-heartedly and didn't even try.

  • He chicken-heartedly refused to confront his boss about the mistake.

  • She chicken-heartedly backed out of giving her speech at the last moment.

  • The team chicken-heartedly avoided any tough questions during the interview.

Synonyms

timidly
vschicken-heartedly
7 3.2

Move or speak in a shy, nervous way because of low confidence

expresses clear lack of courage rather than mere shy nervousness
cravenly
vschicken-heartedly
  • Formal
1 8.4

In a very frightened way that shows no courage

describes lacking courage with less moral emphasis
pusillanimously
vschicken-heartedly
  • Offensive
9.9

Acting in a scared way and avoiding conflict

focuses mainly on fear rather than absence of determination
spinelessly
vschicken-heartedly
  • Offensive
8.2

In a way that shows no courage and avoids standing up for oneself

focuses more on fear rather than missing resolve

Antonyms

bravely
48 1.7

Showing courage even when afraid

fearlessly
8 3.9

In a brave way without fear

How Brave

heroically
16 4.9
bravely
48 1.7
chicken-heartedly
  • Offensive
9.1
timidly
7 3.2
fearfully
8 3.4

Surface Forms

chicken-heartedly positive

Morphology

chicken-heartedly = chicken-hearted (transparent) = chicken + heart + ed + ly

Formed by adding -ly to the adjective 'chicken-hearted'; the meaning 'in a cowardly manner' follows directly from the base.

Etymology

Chicken-heartedly puts together chicken, a bird people use to call someone who is afraid, heart ('courage'), and the ending -ly which makes the word tell how something is done. So, to act chicken-heartedly is to behave in a timid, cowardly way because you do not have 'courage'.