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1. Dictionary

   namby-pamby

   /ˌnambɪˈpambi/

   adjective

   • 1. lacking energy, strength, or courage; feeble, timid, or ineffectual: "I certainly didn't need any affection—namby-pamby nonsense"

   noun

   • 1. a timid, oversensitive, or overly fastidious man or boy: derogatory "once we were in the cells we became pathetic namby-pambies"

   Word Origin mid 18th century: fanciful formation based on the given name of Ambrose Philips (died 1749), an English writer whose pastorals were ridiculed by Pope and others.

   Scrabble Points: 26

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2. People also ask

   What does namby-pamby mean?

   • Before long, namby-pamby was being applied to any piece of writing that was insipidly precious, simple, or sentimental, and later to anyone considered pathetically weak or indecisive. Recent Examples on the Web Walzer’s dissent was namby-pamby. John B. Judis, The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2023

   Namby-pamby Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/namby-pamby

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   Where did namby pamby come from?

   • The first part of Namby Pamby came from Amby, or Ambrose. Pamby was made to rhyme with Namby by using the initial of Philips's surname. Pope then used the name in the 1729 edition of his satirical epic The Dunciad. After being popularized by Pope, namby-pamby went on to be used generally for people or things that are sentimental or weak.

   Namby-pamby - definition of namby-pamby by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com/namby-pamby

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   Why was Philips called namby pamby?

   • Carey's Namby Pamby had enormous success. It became so successful that people began to call Philips himself "Namby Pamby" (as, for example, in The Dunciad in 1727), as he had been renamed by the poem, and Carey was referred to as "Namby Pamby Carey". The poem sold well and he used this style in various other short poems.

   Namby-pamby - Wikipedia

   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namby-Pamby

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   Can you be so namby pamby?

   • You can’t be so namby pamby. Bobby: Hey! I’m still in the initial stages of my decision. There’s no rush. One friend is making fun of another for being afraid of bugs. Andrew: Andrew! Get in here, quick! Aaron: Wait, I’ll be there in a minute. I’m busy with something else right now. Andrew: No! Come quick! It’s an emergency! Help! Help!

   What Does Namby Pamby Mean? - Writing Explained

   writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/namby-pamby

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3. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › namby-pambyNAMBY-PAMBY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › namby-pamby

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   Namby-pamby is an informal adjective that means weak, silly, or emotional. It is often used to criticize someone or something as gutless, spineless, or wishy-washy. See synonyms, related words, and usage examples from the Cambridge English Corpus.

   • Polski

     namby-pamby definicja: 1. weak, silly, or emotional: 2....

   • English (US)

     weak, silly, or emotional: She thinks we're a bunch of...

   • Namby-Pamby in Traditional Chinese

     NAMBY-PAMBY translate: 軟弱的；愚蠢的. Learn more in the Cambridge...

   • Nakedly

     NAKEDLY definition: 1. in a way that is obvious and...

   • Namby-Pamby in Simplified Chinese

     NAMBY-PAMBY translate: 软弱的；愚蠢的. Learn more in the Cambridge...

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › namby-pambyNamby-pamby Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › namby-pamby

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   The meaning of NAMBY-PAMBY is lacking in character or substance : insipid. How to use namby-pamby in a sentence. Did you know?

5. Videos

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     🔵 Namby-Pamby Meaning - Namby Pamby Explanation - Define Namby-Pamby - Origin Ambrose Philips

     2 Apr 2017

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     Namby-pamby Meaning

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     Namby-Pamby Meaning : Definition of Namby-Pamby

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6. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › namby-pambyNAMBY-PAMBY | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › namby-pamby

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   Namby-pamby is an informal and disapproving adjective that means weak, silly, or emotional. Learn how to use it in sentences, find synonyms, and see translations in different languages.

7. www.dictionary.com › browse › namby-pambyNAMBY-PAMBY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › namby-pamby

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   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.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishNAMBY-PAMBY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Namby-pamby is an adjective or noun that describes something or someone weak, sentimental, or insipid. It is a nickname of Ambrose Philips, an 18th-century poet whose pastoral verse was ridiculed.

9. en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Namby-PambyNamby-pamby - Wikipedia

   en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Namby-Pamby

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   Namby-pamby is a term for affected, weak, and maudlin speech/verse. It originates from Namby Pamby (1725) by Henry Carey. Carey wrote his poem as a satire of Ambrose Philips and published it in his Poems on Several Occasions.

10. www.collinsdictionary.com › namby-pambyNAMBY-PAMBY - All you need to know about it | Collins English ...

    www.collinsdictionary.com › namby-pamby

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    A complete guide to the word "NAMBY-PAMBY": definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, grammar insights, collocations, examples, and translations.