wimp

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɪmp/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪmp

Etymology 1

Possibly a clipping of whimper. The term was understood in the United States by the 1930s, as it was incorporated into the names of two famous media characters known for living up to that name: The devious but cowardly Popeye supporting-character called "J. Wellington Wimpy", and the soft-spoken character "Wallace Wimple" from the radio show Fibber McGee and Molly.

Noun

wimp (plural wimps)

1. (derogatory, slang) Someone who lacks confidence or courage, is weak, ineffectual, irresolute and wishy-washy.

   Synonyms: sissy, softy, weenie, wuss; see also Thesaurus:milksop, Thesaurus:coward

   • 1980 March 15, “MUSH FROM THE WIMP”, in The Boston Globe:

     (see title)

Alternative forms

• (rare, dated) whimp

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

wimp (third-person singular simple present wimps, present participle wimping, simple past and past participle wimped)

1. (intransitive, slang) To behave submissively.
   • 1994, Paul Lyons, Class of '66: Living in Suburban Middle America, page 156:

     "They were wimping along and I was accomplished," she asserts with some pride and a touch of arrogance.

2. (transitive, slang) To make (something) weak or wimpy.
   • 2003, Andrea Schulte-Peevers, California, page 69:

     If you're particularly fond of Foster's, Heineken or Moosehead at home, you will be disappointed to find that it's been wimped down for the American market.

Adjective

wimp (comparative more wimp, superlative most wimp)

1. (slang) Weak, wimpy.

Etymology 2

See WIMP.

Noun

wimp (plural wimps)

1. Alternative letter-case form of WIMP

References

Finnish

Etymology

From English WIMP.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwimp/,
• Rhymes: -imp
• Syllabification^(key): wimp

Noun

wimp

1. (astronomy, physics) weakly interacting massive particle, WIMP

Declension