Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy: The primary and most common meaning refers to a person perceived as weak, timid, or lacking in courage and determination.
   • A hypothetical subatomic particle: In astrophysics, a WIMP is a Weakly Interacting Massive Particle, a theoretical constituent of dark matter.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Person):
  • Don't be such a wimp; just tell her how you feel.
  • He was called a wimp for refusing to join the fight.
• Noun (Particle):
  • Scientists are searching for a WIMP that could explain dark matter.
  • The experiment failed to detect any WIMP signatures.

Advanced Usage

• "to wimp out" (phrasal verb): To fail to do something because of fear or lack of courage; to chicken out.
  • He was going to try bungee jumping, but he wimped out at the last second.

Variants and Related Words

• Wimpy (adj): Characteristic of a wimp; weak or cowardly.
  • That was a wimpy excuse for not helping.
• Wimpish (adj): Another adjective form meaning weak or ineffectual.

Synonyms

• Coward: A person who lacks courage.
• Weakling: A person who is physically or morally weak.
• Milquetoast: A timid, unassertive person.
• Pushover: A person who is easy to overcome or influence.

Antonyms

• Hero: A person admired for courage or noble qualities.
• Brave: Ready to face danger or pain; showing courage.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Wimp factor: The degree to which someone is perceived as weak or ineffectual.
  • The politician's hesitation raised his wimp factor in the polls.

Noun

1. a hypothetical subatomic particle of large mass that interacts weakly with ordinary matter through gravitation; postulated as a constituent of the dark matter of the universe
2. a person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy