wimp
UK: /wɪmp/ | US: /wɪmp/
n. a weak, cowardly, or ineffectual person
v. (informal) to act in a timid or unassertive manner
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The word "wimp" first appeared in early 20th-century American slang, likely as a whimsical or derogatory term for someone feeble or lacking courage. Its exact origin is unclear, but it may have been influenced by the older English dialect word "whimper" (to cry weakly) or the German "wimpel" (a pennant, metaphorically suggesting flimsiness). Unlike many words with clear morphemes, "wimp" resists segmentation—it functions as a monomorphemic unit, embodying its meaning holistically.
Don’t be such a wimp—just try the roller coaster!
He wimped out of the debate at the last minute.
The movie villain turned out to be a total wimp.
She called him a wimp for refusing to confront the issue.
Stop wimping around and make a decision.