ninny

American  

[nin-ee] / ˈnɪn i /

noun

PLURAL

ninnies

1. a fool or simpleton.

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ninny British  

/ ˈnɪnɪ /

noun

1. a dull-witted person

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Other Word Forms

• ninnyish adjective

Etymology

Origin of ninny

1585–95; perhaps generic use of pet form of Innocent proper name; -y ²

Example Sentences

“I wouldn’t call it a safe space,” says Owens, bristling at a term that conference attendees associate with ninny liberals afraid of differing points of view.

From Washington Post

I thought he was being a bit of a ninny.

From Washington Post

But she needs the money, not least because she wants to finance a gastric-bypass operation and the skin-removal procedure that her memorable ninny of a weight-loss counsellor states is its necessary accompaniment.

From The New Yorker

Nothing will stop ninnies from their ninnying, but we can recognize that it is, for the most part, a ridiculous endeavor.

From New York Times

The people who are from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan would have you believe that you are a ninny because you might wish for such a thing.

From Washington Post