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
  • But the end result has avoided the bland fate suffered by the recent Range Rover GT concept, for example.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Instead of sharing talking points or bland DNC messaging, the national party’s communications team decided to simply share clips and let the creators decide whether or how to use them.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of bland
Adjective
  • Trump was implying Ukraine was in a weak negotiating position and did not have the military resources to fight against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
  • And some players are turning on the season as seen by them letting the Jaguars tear through weak tackle attempts to the tune of 183 rushing yards and three passing TDs by Trevor Lawrence.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of weak
Noun
  • How could anyone in the military support a repulsive, draft-dodging coward who called dead soldiers suckers and losers?
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Some called them cowards; others opted for more colorful language.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of coward
Adjective
  • Some have complained that Becerra is an unworthy, boring torchbearer for Latinos — not dynamic enough to meet a moment where many hoped for a firebrand.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Sure, this may sound kind of boring, but the city in the southern Guangdong province has also just been named as the country's leader in wealthy entrepreneurs and is the beating heart of China's AI and tech industry.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • The researchers aim to combine the flexibility of soft robots with the reconfigurability of modular robotic systems.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Every room includes complimentary daily use of a beach chair, soft top surfboard, or boogie board (subject to availability).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Nov. 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
  • The plan is for the two kaiju to fight so the humans might have an easier time doing a coup de grâce on the weakened victor.
    — James Grebey, Time, 3 Nov. 2026
  • People with weakened immune systems and those who cannot be vaccinated are also at risk, the statement said.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 28 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 12 Nov. 2026.

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