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
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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
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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Recent Examples of namby-pamby
John B. Judis, The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2023
Adjective
Walzer’s dissent was namby-pamby.
—John B. Judis, The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for namby-pamby
Adjective
-
But aside from calling for some bland common sense regulations that should be uncontroversial to any sane person, Roher doesn’t attempt to make anyone agree with him.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2026
-
After repeating this loop, the researchers ended up with a bland image of a formal interior space – no people, no drama, no real sense of time and place.—
Ahmed Elgammal,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Trump has directed his ire toward the Department of Labor agency ever since former Commissioner Erika McEntarfer authorized the release of a weak jobs report last summer.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Procedures harden, decision paths lengthen, and people wait for permission rather than acting on weak signals from the environment.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
He and the cowards of Congress should be held accountable in the next election cycle.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Tim Walz and Jacob Frey are cowards who are inciting violence to distract from their own failures.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Shopping on a budget doesn't have to be boring.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
-
For the boring old textbook reason of shifting interest rate differentials.—
Kelly Evans,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Snag this extra-soft sheet set for 83% off, which is available in numerous colors and sizes.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
-
So too is the ancient dining room at Scotti's, with its Chianti bottle candle holders dripping with wax and soft opera music always playing through the speakers.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The real star of the show is, of course, Battle Cat, the giant green armored tiger whose alias is Cringer, Prince Adam’s wimp of a house cat.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Wes Siler, our longtime outdoor lifestyle columnist, is a total wimp who obsessively pursues comfort in extreme environments.—
Wes Siler,
Outside,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Even the most insipid formulaic pop nonsense can induce that almost mystical reflection of life if your connections to the time of its airplay are meaningful.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Throughout the film, which is visually impressive, but insipid in the story, there are countless small touches that bring us back to the original.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
According to health officials, Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The risk is highest for the very young and very old, and those with weakened immune systems.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Namby-pamby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/namby-pamby. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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