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nebbish

nebbish

2 9.9
A person who is shy, quiet, and often seen by others as weak
  • noun
  • /ˈnɛbɪʃ/
  • Offensive
translation icon : pobre diablo (ofensivo, informal)
  • People often regarded him as a nebbish, too timid to stand up for himself in meetings.
  • nebbish guy
  • little nebbish

So, so I think it's a mistake to think that every every protagonist has to be a nebbish or, or a dweeb.

Examples

  • He's a nebbish.

  • - A nebbish like you.

  • It's a Jewish name, but I'm a nebbish.

  • To look at him, you'd think he was too much of a nebbish to be a policeman.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Are you a nebbish who doesn't know the tango?

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Despite his talent, he always felt like a nebbish in social situations and avoided large gatherings.

  • Her nebbish personality made it hard for her to make friends, as she preferred to stay in the background.

Synonyms

pamby
vsnebbish
  • Offensive
4 9.9

A person who is weak and lacks courage or strength

emphasizes timidity and ineffectiveness rather than physical frailty
milquetoast
vsnebbish
  • Offensive
3 9.9

A person who is very shy and does not speak up

is broader, highlighting weakness and mild contempt rather than meekness
nebbech
vsnebbish
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who is unlucky and seems shy or helpless

has identical meaning but noted as originally from Yiddish
nerts
vsnebbish
  • Offensive
9.9

A foolish or silly person said as an insult

focuses on timidity and ineffectiveness, not on stupidity

How Ineffectual

failure
  • Offensive
405 2.7
weakling
  • Offensive
24 4.4
nebbish
  • Offensive
2 9.9
shy person
4 2.5

Surface Forms

nebbish singular
nebbishes plural

Etymology

The word nebbish comes from Yiddish nebekh, a word for someone you feel sorry for, 'poor thing'. That's why nebbish means a shy, weak person.