as in to chicken (out)
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Recent Examples of wimp out
Some plants wimp out when temperatures soar—but not these heat-tolerant perennials.
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Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
These thick, long-lasting steamers will never wimp out mid-shower, and the cute packaging sure doesn't hurt either.
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Annie Blackman,
Allure,
16 Mar. 2025
There is a chance that central banks will wimp out and blink, and not be willing to fight inflation.
—
Nouriel Roubini,
Time,
13 Oct. 2022
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
These thick, long-lasting steamers will never wimp out mid-shower, and the cute packaging sure doesn't hurt either.
—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
16 Mar. 2025
There is a chance that central banks will wimp out and blink, and not be willing to fight inflation.
—
Nouriel Roubini,
Time,
13 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wimp out
Verb
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Three people had apparently been killed, but the men behind the coup had backed down and Gorbachev was being released.
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Whether La Roja earns another star or comes crashing back down to earth remains to be seen.
Verb
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In at least 11 communities – including Oklahoma City and Kansas City – private developers backed out of sales following local protests.
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No wonder Yard Act realized music is the lifeline that just might pull us back out of the muck.
Verb
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Uzbekistan went close to an equaliser before Jaminton Campaz scored in stoppage time, immediately followed by a shot at the other end that thundered back off the crossbar.
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Latvian intelligence argues that Putin is not only looking for ways to pressure NATO countries to back off Ukraine, but may also be receiving distorted assessments from inside his own system — raising the risk that Russia could misjudge Western resolve.
Verb
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Strategic shakeup Usually buying and selling is a cop out, but with where the Red Sox are in their competitive cycle the approach might make some sense.
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The case, which has only recently come to the attention of POST officials, highlights the limits of state oversight even after lawmakers passed significant police reform aimed at forcing dishonest cops out of the profession.
Cite this Entry
“Wimp out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wimp%20out. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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