namby-pamby 1 of 2

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namby-pamby

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of namby-pamby
Adjective
Walzer’s dissent was namby-pamby. John B. Judis, The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for namby-pamby
Adjective
  • Listen to one after another, though, and the bland muddiness exposes them as a machine creation.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
  • Recent coverage on Forbes warns that overuse of AI in newsrooms could lead to bland, unoriginal content that erodes trust.
    Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • Precious metals and mining stocks were weak across both markets.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • But Democrats see Earle-Sears as a far weaker candidate than Youngkin, operating a worse environment for the GOP.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • With rising apprehension, the Cabinet kept deliberating for a couple of days while Sumner did his best to shut down jingoistic rhetoric in the Senate from politicians who demanded that Lincoln not be a coward in the face of Great Britain.
    Zaakir Tameez June 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
  • Because these cowards fear being doxed for their inhumane and unconscionable actions.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • This is worlds away from that boring deli chicken sandwich, while still being easy enough to whip up on the busiest of days.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
  • The contract’s scope of work includes the single bore tunnel, station entrances and exits, the excavation of underground stations and the procurement of a tunnel boring machine.
    Grace Hase, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • These attempts to reshape the narrative around China’s actions go way beyond cultural soft power.
    Isabelle Mayault, The Dial, 8 July 2025
  • Queen Camilla styled an Anna Valentine emerald green midi dress with three-quarter-length sleeves, a rounded neckline and slightly flared skirt with soft pleats.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Your wimp of a husband should be there during this conversation.
    Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
  • Share The patriarch of the Berenstain Bears’ family is not a wimp.
    Gregory M. Collins, National Review, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • Amidst their insipid competition to win Harris’ favor, the three daughters lament that none of them will ever truly be their father’s favorite, as that title belongs to the daughter who never grew up: the actual youngest Sinclair daughter, Rosemary.
    Alyssa Davis, People.com, 19 June 2025
  • Brazil were insipid at last summer’s Copa America and have gone downhill since.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Based on this challenge, the groups would have been weaklings Cedrek, Star, Chrissy, Sai, Kamilla, and Mary in one group and Eva, Joe, Mitch, Kyle, David, and Shauhin in the strongman group.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The fact these losers want to jail Andrew and Tristan Tate for preaching their version of traditional masculinity highlights the fact that these fascist feminists are fragile weaklings incapable of defending their position in the free marketplace of ideas.
    David Catanese, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025

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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 Jul. 2025.

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