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Glite Dictionary
niminy-piminy

niminy-piminy

9.9
Too careful about manners in an obvious fake way
  • adjective
  • /ˈnɪmɪniˌpɪmɪni/
  • Archaic
translation icon : afectado
  • She spoke in such a niminy-piminy tone that it felt insincere.

Examples

  • The decor of the room was so niminy-piminy that it suited a dollhouse more than a living space.

  • - And I hate affected, niminy-piminy chicks.

    Little Women (1933)

  • His niminy-piminy mannerisms made him appear overly theatrical.

Synonyms

cutesy
vsniminy-piminy
  • Informal
16 7.2

To try to seem very sweet and childish in a fake way

leans towards affected delicate refinement rather than childish cuteness
prim
vsniminy-piminy
4 7.0

Very formal and proper in a stiff, old-fashioned way

is more about dainty artificial refinement than simple formality
twee
vsniminy-piminy
1 9.1

Too pretty and delicate in a way that seems silly or fake

is the same daintiness but with more artificial exaggeration
cutesy-wootsy
vsniminy-piminy
  • Informal
1 9.9

Being too cute and childish in a sweet, exaggerated way

is about artificial daintiness rather than childish sweetness
mincing
vsniminy-piminy
8.9

Speaking or moving in a small, careful way to seem more refined than they are

is broader, naming exaggerated artificial daintiness rather than specific manner
mincy
vsniminy-piminy
  • Archaic
9.5

Acting in a delicate, overly careful way

is a general term for exaggerated delicate refinement not only action
overdelicate
vsniminy-piminy
8.8

Too easily damaged or upset

places emphasis on affected daintiness and artificial refinement
mimsy
vsniminy-piminy
  • Archaic
9.9

Delicate and slightly silly in a gentle, old-fashioned way

focuses on affected refinement rather than whimsy or feebleness
cutesy-poo
vsniminy-piminy
  • Informal
9.4

Too cute in a silly or fake way

expresses refined artificial daintiness, not playful childish sentiment

Antonyms

natural
∞ 1.0

Not made or changed by people, coming from nature like sunlight

coarse
26 3.7

A surface like sand or rough cloth that has large grains and is not smooth

unrefined
  • Offensive
1 6.0

A person who lacks good manners or social skills

How Affected

affected
7.5
niminy-piminy
  • Archaic
9.9
prissy
  • Informal
13 7.9
prim
8 7.9
dainty
14 4.9
delicate
105 3.9

Surface Forms

niminy-piminy positive

Etymology

Niminy-piminy is a playful rhyming pair, niminy + piminy, made to sound very small and dainty, like teeny-weeny or itsy-bitsy. A helpful way to remember it is that people used it to mock someone acting 'overly refined' or 'affected', so today it means 'affectedly dainty' or 'overly prim'.