namby-pamby

Examples

• All

• We don't need these namby-pamby wacko freaks.

  Doctor Dolittle (1998)

• Times have not changed so much that the views, predilections, and economic motivations of many among the financial and power elites here and abroad have lost their appetite for this purer, less namby-pamby form of capitalism.

  Blog text (27)

• Its officials voice all manner of namby-pamby concerns.

  Fiction book (1998)

• "I'm sick of all those namby-pamby pastimes," Charming said.

  Fiction book (1991)

• In her prime, Eleanor Palmer must have been a truly foxy lady, worth a dozen of her namby-pamby daughters.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Now, as you know all too well, our nation's schools have been blighted by the false kindness of namby-pamby, touchy-feely policies for far too long.

  St Trinian's (2007)

• More generally, the Israeli school system does not operate in some namby-pamby environment of "soft multiculturalism," with different cultures celebrating their uniqueness while accepting the multicultural project as a whole.

  Blog text (14)

• His namby-pamby remarks during the debate showed that he lacked the courage to take a firm stance.

• The team's namby-pamby approach to tackling challenges made it easy for opponents to dominate them.

Synonyms

S

spineless

vsnamby-pamby

• Offensive

27 5.6

Not having courage to act or speak up

covers the same weakness but not only failure to resist others

G

gutless

vsnamby-pamby

• Offensive

26 6.0

Not brave enough to face danger or difficult things

focuses more widely on weakness and lack of effectiveness

W

wimpy

vsnamby-pamby

• Offensive

24 5.7

Lacking strength, courage, or strong flavor

is the general sense of weakness that leads to ineffectiveness

W

wishy-washy

vsnamby-pamby

• Informal

12 7.3

Not firm or brave when making decisions

means weakness in courage and effectiveness rather than mere indecision

W

wussy

vsnamby-pamby

• Offensive

6 9.4

Not brave or willing to try new things

is the neutral description of weak and ineffective behavior

W

wimpish

vsnamby-pamby

• Offensive

1 7.9

Not brave or strong enough to face difficult things

is the broader idea of being weak and ineffective in action

W

weak-kneed

vsnamby-pamby

• Informal

1 7.1

Not brave enough to face difficult situations

is the general state of being weak and ineffective overall

L

like Christ on a stick

vsnamby-pamby

• Offensive

9.9

Very weak and cannot help or lead

expresses the same weak, ineffective idea in neutral wording

Antonyms

C

courageous

157 3.3

Not afraid to face danger or problems

A

assertive

42 4.2

Showing confidence when saying what you want or think

How Tough

resolute

21 4.9

spineless

• Offensive

27 5.6

namby-pamby

• Informal

1 9.9

timid

60 3.5

feeble

25 3.9

Surface Forms

Etymology