namby-pamby 1 of 2

adjective

ˌnam-bē-ˈpam-bē How to pronounce namby-pamby (audio)
Definition of namby-pambynext
1
as in bland
lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character she's such a namby-pamby nothing that it's no wonder she's never asked out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weak
lacking strength of will or character mocked namby-pamby intellectuals who endlessly debate the pros and cons of everything and invariably end up accomplishing nothing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

namby-pamby

2 of 2

noun

as in coward
a person without strength of character those namby-pambies at city hall are never going to get serious about our crime problem

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for namby-pamby
  1. bland
  2. weak
  3. coward
  4. boring
  5. soft
  6. wimp
  7. insipid
  8. weakened
Adjective
  • However, this new research suggests that this slightly bland and uniform appearance is because no white dwarf is close enough for Earthbound astronomers to see their true colors.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The high-wire act that followed—in which performers had to make these bland conceits into something funny without, ostensibly, preparing any jokes in advance—introduced a tension that made sketch shows feel sedate and uneven by comparison.
    — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of bland
Adjective
  • The age-old advice of keeping your passwords secure and being wary of suspicious emails is more important than ever as hackers gain more sophisticated tools and use AI to find more of the internet’s weak points.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Analysts expect profits and assets to cover the dividend through weaker timber periods.
    — Sebastien Chasse, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of weak
Noun
  • Some called them cowards; others opted for more colorful language.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2026
  • There are always vultures circling, and always cowards caving.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of coward
Adjective
  • Let’s start with tracking Savu, where, because of the tiny tribes, the most obvious and boring thing ends up happening.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Smith is betting that in a market where every phone looks the same, the bigger risk is being boring.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • The Dolce Vita bob runs longer with soft, flowing layers, which sets it apart from the shorter, tighter shapes most associated with vintage glamour.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The hybrid shoe looks like a pretty suede flat but is lined by ultra soft fluff that gives it a cozy slipper feel.
    — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of soft
Noun
  • These are often the same people complaining that America is raising a generation of wimps.
    — Jonathan Alpert OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • An early prototype for several of the titles on this list, this adaptation of Sumika Yamamoto’s manga of the same name is one of anime’s ultimate, early wimp-to-whiz sports journeys.
    — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of wimp
Adjective
  • In the meantime, there’s a lot of unwieldy comic commotion involving a missing corpse, a tweaking, naked Dwight and enough insipid TV sibling bickering to clog the airwaves for a decade.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Otherwise, the defence failed to defend, the midfield got overrun and the attack was so insipid that Wrexham managed just one shot on target — George Dobson’s 35th-minute effort that Konstantinos Mavropanos blocked just in front of the goal line.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of insipid
Adjective
  • Less than a month after acquiring McCarthy in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, the Giants are turning to the 23-year-old quarterback to try to lead them to the playoffs in a weakened NFC East.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Most enamel-repair products rely on remineralization, which puts minerals back into weakened enamel using ingredients like fluoride, calcium, phosphate or hydroxyapatite.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakened
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Namby-pamby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/namby-pamby. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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