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namby-pamby
[ nam-bee-pam-bee ]
adjective
- without firm methods or policy; weak or indecisive:
namby-pamby handling of juvenile offenders.
- lacking in character, directness, or moral or emotional strength:
namby-pamby writing.
- weakly sentimental, pretentious, or affected; insipid.
noun
- a namby-pamby person:
written by and for namby-pambies.
- namby-pamby sentiment:
the harmless namby-pamby of a birthday card.
- namby-pamby verse or prose.
namby-pamby
/ ˌnæmbɪˈpæmbɪ /
adjective
- sentimental or prim in a weak insipid way
namby-pamby manners
- clinging, feeble, or spineless
a namby-pamby child
noun
- a person who is namby-pamby
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Other Words From
- namby-pambi·ness namby-pamby·ism noun
- namby-pamby·ish adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of namby-pamby1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of namby-pamby1
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Example Sentences
Boring teams, lousy quarterbacks, and namby-pamby rules are making the National Football League unwatchable.
Why did you make us walk in front, namby-pamby so, Papa dear?
Was this the cousin whom she had considered a sort of namby-pamby, goody-goody girl who would be easily controlled?
Neither Boers or natives understand our namby-pamby way of playing at government; they put it down to fear.
Get out o my way, the pair o you, and let me blow out o this namby-pamby, Sunday-school dump!
Its composition is in the namby-pamby taste of Pleyels time, and will never suit the taste of the present day.
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