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
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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
-
Life without a little spice can be bland, and the same goes for our food.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The film alternates between Aggressive Songs to Tell You What Emotion to Have and halting, bland narration from the first lady describing her feelings and initiatives.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
31 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
-
Please do not take the coward’s way.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And Trump calls ’em almost like cowards.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 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
-
The consumption of raw milk and other unpasteurized dairy products can cause serious health risks and be especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, according to the Food and Drug Administration.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The primary concern is costs, according to Bloomberg, along with weakened demand in China.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Namby-pamby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/namby-pamby. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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