noun
wuss
wuus
noun
1
An informal, slightly mocking word for someone seen as weak, timid, or easily scared.
"Stop being such a wuss and just ask her to dance."
"He called himself a wuss for backing out of the bungee jump."
How to Use Wuss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual, mildly insulting way to call someone a coward or overly cautious.
When to use it
Informal and can come across as teasing between friends or as a genuine insult — read the room.
Common pairings
wuss out
such a wuss
Word Forms
wussed past tense, wusses plural, wusses singular
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Etymology
US college slang from the late 1970s, likely a blend of "wimp" and "puss," or shortened from "wussy."