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
-
Out-of-season tomatoes—notoriously pale, mealy, and bland—tend to be tomatoes in name only.—
Rachel Sugar,
The Atlantic,
24 July 2025
-
Apparently, the line is bland but also profound and ironic, and all of that whooshes over my head, too, but that’s Saturday.—
Caitlin Lovinger,
New York Times,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
This downward movement was attributed to both weak job figures and a new round of U.S. tariffs announced by Trump.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Last month and August 2024 also saw a weak start, so this comes as no surprise.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Today’s Republican Party is a bunch of weak, spineless cowards who cower in obedient terror at Trump’s feet.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
-
Now, all of these cowards that were too scared to give us a chance [want to work with us] because there’s no risk involved anymore.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Hunter: The Reckoning puts players in the role of regular people who know monsters are real and can’t go back to their old, boring lives.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
The real world is monochromatic, straightforward, boring.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
The song now holds deeper meaning for her parents and little brother, Luca. Swifties around the world rallied to send Lily friendship bracelets — enough to fill seven pool noodles — along with cards, bedazzled mementos and soft cardigans.—
Bryan West,
The Tennessean,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Paint your walls in a softer, creamier yellow, for example.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Only to then endure opprobrium being unfairly dumped on her from wimps who should’ve known — and who should’ve behaved — better toward her when the Disney dud was released.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
20 June 2025
-
Otherwise, they are destined to be remembered as useless and timid wimps as the U.S. was slouching toward a dictatorship.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Italy were insipid against the Swiss in that Euros defeat this time last year.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
-
Amidst their insipid competition to win Harris’ favor, the three daughters lament that none of them will ever truly be their father’s favorite, as that title belongs to the daughter who never grew up: the actual youngest Sinclair daughter, Rosemary.—
Alyssa Davis,
People.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
The sign Scorpio isn’t known to be a weakling, nor is Tyrannosaurus.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
2 July 2025
-
Based on this challenge, the groups would have been weaklings Cedrek, Star, Chrissy, Sai, Kamilla, and Mary in one group and Eva, Joe, Mitch, Kyle, David, and Shauhin in the strongman group.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Namby-pamby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/namby-pamby. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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