What does wuss mean?
A wuss is an informal English noun for a person regarded as timid, cowardly, or unwilling to face difficulty. It is typically an insult rather than a neutral description, and its tone ranges from teasing among friends to contemptuous or bullying in hostile speech. A speaker might call someone “don't be such a wuss” when encouraging them to take a risk, or describe a person who backs down under pressure as “a total wuss.” The word is chiefly associated with North American English, though comparable dismissive terms are used throughout English. Because wuss focuses on perceived fear or avoidance, it often carries a stronger personal insult than the milder description “cautious.” It is unsuitable for formal writing and can easily intensify conflict. The related spelling wussy functions chiefly as an adjective for a timid or cowardly person, preserving the same disparaging register.
nounA person regarded as excessively timid, cowardly, or unwilling to face difficulty or danger.
- A person who is considered timid, cowardly, or unwilling to face a difficult or frightening situation.
"Don't be such a wuss and come to the concert."
"Never call your brother a wuss for declining the challenge; he may have a good reason."
"The taunt—“what a wuss!”—followed him all the way home."
The standard plural is wusses, though it is much less common than the singular.
"The film depicts two brothers who are complete wusses."
Despite having only four letters, wuss has an uncertain family tree: its precise origin remains disputed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wuss
The exact origin of wuss is uncertain. It was established in American English by the early twentieth century as a dismissive label for a coward or weakling, and proposed German sources for the word remain disputed rather than certain.
Related word forms
How wuss is actually used
Informal and usually derogatory. Among friends it may be teasing, but in hostile contexts it can be insulting or bullying. It is unsuitable for formal writing.
Easily confused with wuss
Wuss is primarily a noun naming a cowardly or overly timid person, whereas wussy is chiefly an adjective describing someone as timid or cowardly.