milksop

[ milk-sop ]

noun

1. a weak or ineffectual person.

   Synonyms: wimp, namby-pamby, softy, milquetoast

milksop

/ ˈmɪlkˌsɒp /

noun

1. a feeble or ineffectual man or youth
2. a dish of bread soaked in warm milk, given esp to infants and invalids

Derived Forms

• ˈmilkˌsoppy, adjective
• ˈmilkˌsopism, noun

Other Words From

• milksopism noun
• milksoppy milksopping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of milksop¹

1350–1400; Middle English. See milk, sop

Example Sentences

Anthony Weiner: Is this man — this milksop, this harlequin in boxers — actually single-handedly responsible for our current political reality?

From Washington Post

“Took you all for milksops at first. Deepest apologies,” he added, with a bow.

From Literature

As the scroll fell back down into the road yet again, Constance called aloud, “Put some energy into it, you little milksop. I’m not hanging about here all day.”

From Literature

Gray displayed his politics with disarming plainness – he believed in Scottish independence and socialism; I was a milksop unionist and social democrat.

From The Guardian

If you’ll remember, Dante didn’t have enough respect for milksops to give them a special place inside hell.

From Washington Times