wimp

Possible contraction 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.

• IPA^(key): /wɪmp/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪmp

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

2. Alternative spelling of WIMP

• wimpish
• wimply
• wimp out
• wimpy

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

1. (intransitive) 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) To render 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.

From English WIMP.

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

wimp

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