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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
  • Webflow's free templates are visually bland, so the premium templates are basically required to build an attractive site.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Roasting brings out its sweetness and adds depth, transforming it from bland to rich and slightly caramelized.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of bland
Adjective
  • But the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has devolved significantly since its glory days atop the comedy calendar, proving to be a weaker platform for political satire than the Onion’s takeover of Infowars.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Production disruptions and weak output in Chile, the world’s biggest producer, sent prices to record highs, with the US accumulating huge stockpiles and smelters in China forced to turn to scraps to meet that country’s industrial needs.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of weak
Noun
  • No, and as true as all that might be, the most important lesson is that DEI turns people into cowards.
    — Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • But Coyote has hitched his hopes for the mammoth case upon a man who could only be called a coward.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of coward
Adjective
  • As a matter of fact, this will probably be one of the more boring editions of this column.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Alice’s viewpoint is boring, and anyone who agonizes about it forever will never get to the interesting parts.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Bronwyn’s mother, Muzzy, who was lambasted all of last season for being cold and arguably cruel to her daughter, is notably softer in her first scene back — though the bob is as cunty as ever.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
  • During our time there, we were treated to a three-course chef’s tasting menu that was a paean to the summer; think a profusion of tomatoes, stone fruit, local soft cheeses, and edible flowers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of soft
Noun
  • 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
  • His rage stands as a measure of machismo, as if civility is for wimps.
    — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of wimp
Adjective
  • 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
  • The ending produces more questions that the frustratingly insipid storytelling doesn’t feign to care about.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of insipid
Adjective
  • When people use contaminated soap, bacteria can enter the body through cuts and cracks in the skin and lead to infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
    — Jenna Anderson, HEALTH, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Even children vaccinated for varicella, such as those in the United States since 1995, still have dormant virus in their neurons, since the vaccine uses a live but weakened strain.
    — Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 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 24 Sep. 2026.

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