Chicken-hearted

Chicken-hearted describes a person easily frightened or lacking courage; timid or cowardly. It suggests an excessive fear, often of trivial things, and a reluctance to face danger or difficulty. This term often carries a slightly disparaging tone, implying a weakness of character and a lack of bravery. It can be applied to situations where someone shrinks from challenges or avoids taking necessary risks, often in contrast to more courageous individuals.

Chicken-hearted meaning with examples

• He was chicken-hearted, refusing to speak up during the meeting, even though he had valuable insights to share with everyone around.
• The chicken-hearted knight abandoned the quest when faced with the dragon's fiery breath, terrified he'd lose his life.
• She felt chicken-hearted at the thought of skydiving, backing out at the last moment and cancelling her reservation.
• Despite his initial bravado, he proved chicken-hearted when it came to confronting his boss about the unfair treatment.
• The chicken-hearted politician avoided any controversial topics, always opting for safe and agreeable statements.