pussy

Timid person, informally

Pussy has three main meanings that create rich ambiguity.

It's an informal word for a cat.

It's vulgar slang for the female genitals.

And it's a derogatory term for someone considered weak or cowardly: Don't be such a pussy.

The coward sense likely derives from the genital meaning, implying that femininity equals weakness—which makes it offensive on multiple levels.

The word appears in compounds like pussy-whipped (controlled by a female partner) and pussyfoot (move cautiously or avoid commitment).

cat

kitten

Juvenile domestic feline

  • meowFeline vocalization
  • purringVibrating vocalization of contentment
  • whiskersFacial sensory hairs

furball · litterbox · tabby · siamese · calico · tuxedo · tomcat · alleycat · mouser · cattery

timid

cowardly

Without bravery or nerve

fainthearted · spineless · gutless · milquetoast · scaredy-cat · yellow-bellied

willow

catkins

Pendulous flower spikes

shrub · wetlands · silvery · fuzzy · flowering · ornamental · arrangement · vase · streambank

feline

tiger

Large striped Asian feline

cheetah · jaguar · cougar · lynx · ocelot · bobcat · serval · caracal · wildcat · predator

Opposites
animal type

pussydog

Domesticated barking mammal

canine · hound · pooch · puppy · mutt

anatomical sex

pussycock

Male chicken

dick · penis · phallus · prick · member

courage/toughness

pussybadass

Impressively tough person

hero · warrior · brave · tough guy · hard-ass

Phrases
Family

puss, pussycat, pussyfoot, pussies, pussycats, pussyfooting, pussyfooter, pussyfooted, pussy-cat

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated R