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
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If the bland season premiere is any indication, don’t expect many of those this year.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vox,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Their beiges aren’t at all bland and boring—quite the opposite, actually.—
Shanna Shipin,
Glamour,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Why Does Taste Sensitivity Matter for Weight Loss? Previous research on how people with obesity perceive taste suggested that weaker taste sensitivity may cause some people to eat more of certain foods to feel satisfied.—
Becky Upham,
EverydayHealth.com,
14 Feb. 2025
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Twilio — Shares of the cloud communications company plunged 15% on the heels of its weak earnings guidance.—
Hakyung Kim,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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McGee, Knight, and Torres step onto the Elevator of Schemes and Secrets full of speculation, like why is LaRoche interested in scoring political points with this case, and what kind of coward hides behind a fake name anyway?—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
17 Dec. 2024
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This sick, twisted and evil coward showed no regard for Laken or human life.—
Audrey Conklin,
Fox News,
21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Harris, the narrator’s husband: Paul Mescal or Nick Kroll Can Ireland's sexiest chain-wearer reinvent himself as a boring straight guy who's not entirely fulfilling his wife?—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
13 Feb. 2025
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From awful ads to a divisive halftime show to a boring game, 10 things to forget.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In some regards, the third season feels like a soft reset.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Feb. 2025
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Many who step away from heavy lash use find their face appears softer and more youthful without them.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But the character, in Groening’s view, turned out to be a wimp.—
Darryn King,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2024
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The hard labor of making Wabanaki baskets Wabanaki basket-making isn’t for wimps.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
USA TODAY,
29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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At the far extreme, there is the insipid libertarianism of Ron Paul, the former Texas representative, who has claimed that Marine detachments guarding U.S. embassies count as examples of military overstretch.—
Bret Stephens,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Feb. 2013
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The blandly positive lyrics seemed even more insipid amid all the bedroom jams.—
Eric Webb,
Austin American-Statesman,
1 June 2024
Noun
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Tinkerbell, who is seen as somewhat of a weakling in the Shrek films, is flattened against a lantern in the land which is also home to props previously only seen digitally on screen.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
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What cinches this daring perspective is actor Andrew Scott’s phenomenal characterization as a weakling who grapples with gradual self-awareness.—
Armond White,
National Review,
29 Dec. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near namby-pamby
Cite this Entry
“Namby-pamby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/namby-pamby. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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