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wuss

wuss

51 9.1
A person who is not brave and avoids difficult things
  • noun
  • /wʊs/
  • Offensive
translation icon : cobarde
  • She called him a wuss because he was too afraid to try the roller coaster.
  • wimp and wuss
  • call someone a wuss
  • look like a wuss

Also, just in case anyone's wondering, I eat my apple with a knife because I'm a wuss.

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Examples

  • In fact, I'm a complete wuss when it comes to horror movies.

    Blog text (1)
  • I'm a huge wuss when it comes to scary movies.

    Blog text (4)
  • Oh, just give it a go, you big wuss!

  • What would help this guy would be to stop being a wuss and to get over his sexual shame.

    Blog text (17)
  • Look, if you're too much of a wuss, just tell me...

  • I've never felt like such a wuss in my whole life.

    Blog text (8)
  • Don't be such a wuss.

  • I think maybe he's just a wuss.

  • Don't be such a wuss, Jam.

  • I don't want to make him mad or feel bad, but he's such a wuss.

    Fiction book (1998)

Synonyms

weakling
vswuss
  • Offensive
24 4.4

A person who has little body strength and gets tired easily

focuses on lack of courage or effectiveness rather than physical weakness
wussy
vswuss
  • Offensive
10 9.3

A person who is too afraid to try things

is the informal form rather than the slangy version
weiner
vswuss
  • Offensive
1 9.9

An insulting word for someone who is weak or too afraid to act

is less insulting and names general weakness or lack of courage
wuzzy
vswuss
  • Informal
9.9

A person who is easily frightened and not brave

is about general ineffectiveness or weakness rather than timidity

Antonyms

1.1

A person admired for brave actions and good qualities

Idioms

to be a wuss
  • Offensive
8 9.9

To be too afraid to do something

How Timid

coward
  • Offensive
584 2.3
wuss
  • Offensive
51 9.1
timid
1 3.5
hesitant
73 3.2

Surface Forms

wuss singular
wusses plural

Etymology

The word wuss is American slang for a weak or scared person and probably comes from the longer form wussy or from old words that meant 'weak' or 'worthless'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of wuss like wimp, so wuss means someone who is not brave or strong.