1
as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
only a ninny would try to cross a swollen, raging river
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idiot
a stupid person
was such a ninny that he kept forgetting my name, even though I was wearing a name tag
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ninny
Jane Austen wrote takedowns of this kind of ninny two centuries ago — how fun to see Pike update her twit to the post-Y2K era.
—
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Kopas, who wisely eschews hamming, makes Frank a spry, eloquent presence, although more dourness in the play’s initial scenes might help his character stand out from the salon’s cheerful ninnies.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Because some ninny has not read the user manual.
—Sarah Barker, Outside Online, 19 Mar. 2021
Sure enough, the team at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, an organization that provides food to more than 700 pantries throughout the Chicago area, contacted me and said a conservative donor who thinks me quite the ninny had donated $10,000.
—Rex Huppke, chicagotribune.com, 16 Dec. 2021
This part of a snow bath is: Yas ninny' bee táádigis bil ádi didiilchil dóó ádaah nidinííldah, or rub your face and body with snow and dust it off.
—Kiliii Yüyan, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2020
This Macbeth is something of a ninny, a lightweight who lounges on a throne that seems far too big for him.
—Kyle Smith, National Review, 2 Nov. 2019
When this became public knowledge, Stephen Spender, Lasky’s deputy and more a ninny than a poet, resigned.
—David Pryce-Jones, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019
But the story goes that mall proponents had to overcome three tremendous obstacles: the Great Depression, World War II, and the city’s anti-growth ninnies.
—oregonlive.com, 1 Aug. 2019
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Kopas, who wisely eschews hamming, makes Frank a spry, eloquent presence, although more dourness in the play’s initial scenes might help his character stand out from the salon’s cheerful ninnies.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Because some ninny has not read the user manual.
—Sarah Barker, Outside Online, 19 Mar. 2021
Sure enough, the team at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, an organization that provides food to more than 700 pantries throughout the Chicago area, contacted me and said a conservative donor who thinks me quite the ninny had donated $10,000.
—Rex Huppke, chicagotribune.com, 16 Dec. 2021
This part of a snow bath is: Yas ninny' bee táádigis bil ádi didiilchil dóó ádaah nidinííldah, or rub your face and body with snow and dust it off.
—Kiliii Yüyan, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2020
This Macbeth is something of a ninny, a lightweight who lounges on a throne that seems far too big for him.
—Kyle Smith, National Review, 2 Nov. 2019
When this became public knowledge, Stephen Spender, Lasky’s deputy and more a ninny than a poet, resigned.
—David Pryce-Jones, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019
But the story goes that mall proponents had to overcome three tremendous obstacles: the Great Depression, World War II, and the city’s anti-growth ninnies.
—oregonlive.com, 1 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ninny
Noun
-
At best, Trantalis and Glassman are being played for fools.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
7 July 2025
-
Not even the streamers could provide a lot of new entertainment for us fools.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
So, the parallel thing that I’ve been frustrated by recently is not just calling Trump stupid, but calling Trump voters stupid.—
Drew Broussard
May 22,
Literary Hub,
22 May 2025
-
Sometimes too stupid is actually smartski but sometimes is just stupid stupid.—
Caroline Downey,
National Review,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Two summers ago, as a group of people used their cars to stop traffic to help a gaggle of 150 to 200 geese cross a road in Henderson, Nevada, a driver went around them and struck at least nine geese, a witness told ABC affiliate KTNV.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
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And now that silly goose still out here shaking dat a** for drake every day.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Still, when those characters are a gaggle of 20-somethings being stalked by a hook-wielding and slicker-wearing homicidal maniac, there is surely cause for some cellular activity.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
17 July 2025
-
At least his brand of evil maniac is kind of funny and endearing.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ninny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ninny. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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