wimp

wimp — noun

1. an insulting word for someone considered weak or lacking the bravery to face sit

1.nounB1
Definition

an insulting word for someone considered weak or lacking the bravery to face situations that most people would handle without fear

Example

Tendai called his brother a wimp for refusing to go on the roller coaster.

call + someone + a wimp (insult pattern)

Meera felt like a wimp after failing to finish the mountain hike with the group.

Common collocations
  • call someone a wimp
  • a total wimp
  • a bit of a wimp
  • branded a wimp
  • feel like a wimp
  • a spineless wimp
Synonyms
  • coward

    stronger and more serious than 'wimp'; implies deliberate avoidance of danger out of fear

  • weakling

    focuses more on physical weakness; less judgemental about character

  • pushover

    focuses on being too easily persuaded or taken advantage of, rather than lacking courage

Antonyms
  • hero

    someone who shows courage; opposite extreme of bravery

  • tough

    informal term for someone strong and confident; opposite in connotation

Grammar Patterns

wimp + singular/plural verb

Usage Note

Frequently used in schoolyard or casual contexts as a mild insult. Common in the pattern 'call [someone] a wimp' or '[be] a wimp'. Less harsh than stronger insults like 'coward', but still best avoided in polite conversation.

Common Mistakes

The teacher called the student a wimp for making a mistake.
The teacher told the student not to be so hard on himself after making a mistake.
'wimp' is too informal and insulting for a teacher to use in a school context.
I felt like a wimp about the test tomorrow.
I felt nervous about the test tomorrow.
'wimp' is not used for general nervousness; it implies a lack of courage in a social or physical challenge.

Word family

  • wimpy
    adjectiveB2
  • wimpish
    adjectiveB2
  • wimp out
    phrasal verbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe someone seen as lacking strength or courage, but they differ in tone and focus. 'Wimp' is the most informal and is often used teasingly among friends or in school settings — it sounds milder than a serious accusation. 'Coward' carries stronger moral judgement: calling someone a coward implies they deliberately ran from a duty or danger. 'Weakling' focuses on physical frailty or emotional softness rather than cowardice. 'Pushover' describes someone who is too easily persuaded or taken advantage of, not necessarily someone who is afraid. For example, saying 'Don't be a wimp — just jump in the pool!' is a light taunt among friends, while 'He was a coward who abandoned his team' is a grave criticism.

coward ↗weaklingpushoverwimp ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • call someone a wimp
  • a bit of a wimp
  • a total wimp
  • brand someone a wimp

Etymology

English

First recorded in the 1930s in American English. The word may come from 'whimper' — a wimp is someone who whines or shows weakness. The term gained wide popularity in the 1970s partly due to the character Wimpy from the Popeye cartoons, though the character's name was already in colloquial use before the comic strip made it famous.