namby-pambies

Variant of namby-pamby

namby-pamby definition

namby-pamby (nam′bē pam′bē)

adjective

  1. weakly sentimental; insipid
  2. without vigor
  3. wishy-washy

Etymology: orig. satirical nickname of Ambrose Philips, 18th-c. Eng poet: in ridicule of his sentimental pastorals

noun

  1. namby-pamby talk
  2. pl. namby-pambies -·bies a namby-pamby person

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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