nebbish
Pitifully meek person
A nebbish is a timid, ineffectual person—someone meek, unassertive, and easily overlooked.
The word comes from Yiddish and carries affectionate contempt: a nebbish isn't malicious, just hapless.
Poor nebbish, he couldn't even ask for a raise.
The adjective nebbishy describes this quality: his nebbishy demeanor at parties.
Habitual, pitiable bungler
- schnookPitiful, gullible person
- schmoPitiable, foolish nobody
- klutzAwkward, graceless person
- nudnikPestering, tedious person
mensch · kvetch · yenta · schlep · maven · kibitz · schmooze · nosh
Reserved and retiring
- meekHumbly unassertive
- mousyShy and unassertive
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- timorousShowing nervous apprehension
diffident · retiring · self-effacing · sheepish · unassuming · withdrawn · reserved · inhibited
Timid, feeble person
- pushoverEasily defeated opponent
- doormatEntry rug for wiping
- weaklingFeeble person
- spinelessLacking courage or resolve
patsy · ineffectual · helpless · powerless · feeble · impotent · passive · submissive
Arousing scornful pity
- haplessLacking good fortune
- pitifulArousing sorrowful contempt
- unfortunateDeserving of pity
- lucklessWithout good fortune
sorry · woeful · wretched · forlorn · miserable · downtrodden · hard-luck · underdog
Uneasy and apprehensive
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- fretfulAnxiously irritable
- jitteryAnxiously restless
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
uneasy · fidgety · hand-wringing · overwrought · neurotic · high-strung · twitchy · skittish
Not worthy of comment
- forgettableUnlikely to be recalled
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- unnoticedNot perceived by anyone
- nondescriptWithout distinguishing qualities
plain · inconspicuous · unobtrusive · background · fading · obscure · anonymous · faceless
schlemiel
Habitual, pitiable bungler
nudnik · mensch · kvetch · yenta · schlep · maven · kibitz · schmooze · nosh · schmaltz
shy
Reserved and retiring
timorous · diffident · retiring · self-effacing · sheepish · unassuming · withdrawn · reserved · inhibited · wallflower
wimp
Timid, feeble person
spineless · patsy · ineffectual · helpless · powerless · feeble · impotent · passive · submissive · compliant
pathetic
Arousing scornful pity
- haplessLacking good fortune
- pitifulArousing sorrowful contempt
- unfortunateDeserving of pity
luckless · sorry · woeful · wretched · forlorn · miserable · downtrodden · hard-luck · underdog · loser
nervous
Uneasy and apprehensive
apprehensive · uneasy · fidgety · hand-wringing · overwrought · neurotic · high-strung · twitchy · skittish · jumpy
unremarkable
Not worthy of comment
- forgettableUnlikely to be recalled
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- unnoticedNot perceived by anyone
nondescript · plain · inconspicuous · unobtrusive · background · fading · obscure · anonymous · faceless · invisible
- Yiddishchutzpah, kvetch, mensch, schlep, tchotchke
- Jewish comedyBorscht Belt, Jerry Seinfeld, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Larry David
- small frysmall fry, small-fry, pipsqueak, little guy, nobody
- annoying peoplepest, hecklers, nuisance, meddlers, bore
- foolsfool, idiot, moron, fools, idiots
- cowardscoward, chicken, wimp, milquetoast, poltroon
nebbishalpha
First Greek letter
alpha male · go-getter · dynamo · powerhouse · force of nature
nebbishcharmer
One who captivates others
heartthrob · ladykiller · Don Juan · Casanova · lothario
nebbishgo-getter
Ambitious, driven person
hustler · self-starter · striver · overachiever · ambitious