Nebbish definition

nĕbĭsh
A person regarded as weak-willed or timid.
noun
2
1
One who is fearful and timid, especially in making decisions and plans, in discussions, debates, arguments, and confrontations, and in taking responsibility.

Actor Rick Moranis often plays a nebbish.

noun
1
0
(slang) A person regarded as, variously, pitifully inept, ineffective, shy, dull, etc.
noun
1
1
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
nebbish
Plural:
nebbishes

Origin of nebbish

  • Yiddish nebekh poor, unfortunate of Slavic origin bhag- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Yiddish נעביש (nebish), from נעבעך (nebekh, “poor, unfortunate"), from Czech nebohý.

    From Wiktionary

Also Mentioned In

Words near nebbish in the Dictionary