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

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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
  • Despite his top billing and his undeniable curmudgeon charisma, even Dern ends up underserved by a role that is eventually reduced to so much benign backdrop for a much blander hero’s journey.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In terms of texture and flavor, these bite-size pancakes range from fluffy to pasty, sweet to bland, terrific to just barely edible.
    — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of bland
Adjective
  • The Commerce Department released a report Friday showing weak retail sales in July.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Following his coach and uncle Toni’s advice, Nadal finally beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2008, breaking Federer’s Open-Era-record five-year winning streak on grass, by playing high balls to Federer’s back hand, his weak point.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of weak
Noun
  • If your team didn’t hand out $700 million IOUs deferred until the next century, your owner was just a cheap coward.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Corey Graves was much more talkative this time around, lambasting Big Cass as a coward while supporting Evans.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of coward
Adjective
  • The boring rosters, the passive-aggressive press conferences, the endless parade of mediocre seasons — cresting and falling with an inexplicable 2021 and 2026 — has been brutal to watch.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The real world is always more boring than sci-fi, but solving this part of the puzzle will still be fascinating and not easy.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • On Friday, his only real trouble was in the fifth inning, when a soft single, a line drive and a bunt hit loaded the bases with one out.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026
  • This finding, the authors said, suggested soft tissue was still holding the skeleton in place.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of soft
Noun
  • His rage stands as a measure of machismo, as if civility is for wimps.
    — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Anthony Hernandez toils in the brutish profession that is a mixed martial arts fighter, no wimps allowed.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of wimp
Adjective
  • The ending produces more questions that the frustratingly insipid storytelling doesn’t feign to care about.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Mitchell, whose gritty century in the recent third test against England secured a series victory, top-scored with 65 in an insipid New Zealand batting effort.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of insipid
Adjective
  • The bacteria can cause illnesses that could be fatal for children younger than 5, elderly people or people with weakened or compromised immune systems.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
  • However, Alt was limited to just six games after dealing with multiple ankle injuries, leaving the Chargers' offensive line in a weakened state.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 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 26 Aug. 2026.

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