Namby-pamby
adjective
Weak and lacking courage or strength.
He was criticized for his namby-pamby approach to discipline.
Often appears as...
- namby-pamby person
- namby-pamby attitude
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
noun
A person who is weak, lacks courage and acts in an indecisive way.
Stop being such a namby-pamby and make a decision!
Often appears as...
- be a namby-pamby
- act like a namby-pamby
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
adjective
Weak and lacking courage or strength.
He was criticized for his namby-pamby approach to discipline.
Often appears as...
- namby-pamby person
- namby-pamby attitude
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
noun
A person who is weak, lacks courage and acts in an indecisive way.
Stop being such a namby-pamby and make a decision!
Often appears as...
- be a namby-pamby
- act like a namby-pamby
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Informal Usage
Best used in casual conversations rather than formal or professional situations due to its informal nature.
My friend acted all namby-pamby when I asked him to complain about the bad service.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Carries a negative judgement; be careful not to offend when using it to describe someone.
Calling him namby-pamby was not nice, even though he hesitated to climb the ladder.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotionally Charged
It can express frustration or mockery towards the lack of fortitude in others.
She dismissed his fears as just namby-pamby nonsense.
Pro Tip 1/3Informal Usage
Best used in casual conversations rather than formal or professional situations due to its informal nature.
My friend acted all namby-pamby when I asked him to complain about the bad service.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Carries a negative judgement; be careful not to offend when using it to describe someone.
Calling him namby-pamby was not nice, even though he hesitated to climb the ladder.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotionally Charged
It can express frustration or mockery towards the lack of fortitude in others.
She dismissed his fears as just namby-pamby nonsense.
Pro Tip 1/3Informal Usage
Best used in casual conversations rather than formal or professional situations due to its informal nature.
My friend acted all namby-pamby when I asked him to complain about the bad service.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Carries a negative judgement; be careful not to offend when using it to describe someone.
Calling him namby-pamby was not nice, even though he hesitated to climb the ladder.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotionally Charged
It can express frustration or mockery towards the lack of fortitude in others.
She dismissed his fears as just namby-pamby nonsense.
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Quote examples
Seth Shostak
American Scientist
Battleship' is not a film that Francois Truffaut would have made. Nor would any of those other namby-pamby European directors. Nope, this picture eschews that Continental obsession with small stories, set in quaint towns filled with pockmarked folk doing their banal things.
Quote examples
Noah Feldman
American Author
Roosevelt got a chance to name an amazing nine justices of the Supreme Court. He was not namby-pamby on this question. He wanted people who shared his views, he wanted liberals, and he wanted lots of them.
Quote examples
Cokie Roberts
American Journalist
Martha Washington. I think she's done herself a disservice in history with a little cap, you know? She looks like a namby-pamby little grandmotherly type, but she turned out to be a very strong woman.
Quote examples
Steven Crowder
Canadian Actor
You can be a namby-pamby leftie, a gun-toting neo-con, or a soft, indecisive moderate. I really don't care. Just don't lie to me.
Quote examples
Jason Statham
British Actor
I'm a big Bruce Lee fan, and if I saw Bruce Lee try to be some namby-pamby lawyer, I'd want my money back.
Quote examples
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Norwegian Coach
It's not about tippy-tappy, namby-pamby football. It's a battle, and we have to be ready for it.
Quote examples
Lizzy Caplan
American Actress
You'd be surprised. Girls like sensitive, namby-pamby guys.
Quote examples
Seth Shostak
American Scientist
Battleship' is not a film that Francois Truffaut would have made. Nor would any of those other namby-pamby European directors. Nope, this picture eschews that Continental obsession with small stories, set in quaint towns filled with pockmarked folk doing their banal things.
Quote examples
Noah Feldman
American Author
Roosevelt got a chance to name an amazing nine justices of the Supreme Court. He was not namby-pamby on this question. He wanted people who shared his views, he wanted liberals, and he wanted lots of them.
Quote examples
Cokie Roberts
American Journalist
Martha Washington. I think she's done herself a disservice in history with a little cap, you know? She looks like a namby-pamby little grandmotherly type, but she turned out to be a very strong woman.
Quote examples
Steven Crowder
Canadian Actor
You can be a namby-pamby leftie, a gun-toting neo-con, or a soft, indecisive moderate. I really don't care. Just don't lie to me.
Quote examples
Jason Statham
British Actor
I'm a big Bruce Lee fan, and if I saw Bruce Lee try to be some namby-pamby lawyer, I'd want my money back.
Quote examples
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Norwegian Coach
It's not about tippy-tappy, namby-pamby football. It's a battle, and we have to be ready for it.
Quote examples
Lizzy Caplan
American Actress
You'd be surprised. Girls like sensitive, namby-pamby guys.
Example 1 of 7
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