What does sissiness mean?
Sissiness is an informal, usually disparaging noun for behavior regarded as childish, weak, timid, or effeminate. It often refers to reluctance to face pain, danger, conflict, or an uncomfortable task, but its exact force depends on context and the person being judged. The word may be used of anyone, although it has often been applied especially to boys and men; in that setting it can be insulting and carry a gendered implication. Because it labels a manner of behaving rather than naming a specific act, sissiness is usually treated as a general quality: someone may be dismissed as showing sissiness, or a decision may be criticized as excessively cautious and fearful. It also appears as a less common countable plural, sissinesses, though the abstract or uncountable use is much more natural. Overall, sissiness is a blunt evaluative term rather than a neutral psychological description, and its use can express disapproval of vulnerability, emotional restraint, or perceived weakness.
nounChildish, weak, or effeminate behavior, especially timidity, cowardice, or an unwillingness to face discomfort or challenge.
- Childish, timid, weak, or effeminate behavior, especially an unwillingness to face pain, danger, conflict, or discomfort.
"She dismissed his hesitation to enter the water as sissiness rather than fear."
"His friends accused him of sissiness when he refused to enter the cold water."
"The director dismissed her complaints about the late meeting as mere sissiness."
Rare and uncommon; sissiness is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"Several of the hero's early sissinesses disappear as he matures."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sissiness come from?
Sissiness is an English noun formed from sissy with the suffix -ness. Sissy is a long-established word used especially for a person regarded as effeminate, cowardly, or weak. Adding -ness shifts the focus from the person to the quality or behavior being described.
How sissiness is actually used
Informal and usually disparaging. The term is often applied especially to boys or men, in which contexts it can carry a deliberately gendered implication and may be offensive.
Easily confused with sissiness
A sissy is a person regarded as timid, weak, childish, or effeminate, whereas sissiness names the behavior or quality attributed to such a person.