Meaning & use
pansy
A dated and offensive slang term for a man considered weak, timid, or effeminate.
See it in a sentence
The bully called him a pansy for refusing to fight.
Older war films sometimes use "pansy" as a slur against soldiers seen as cowardly.
A note on using this word
This sense is offensive and considered a slur; "pansy" is also, and far more commonly and neutrally, the name of a garden flower.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A small garden plant with brightly colored, flat-faced flowers.
She planted rows of colorful pansies along the front walkway each spring.
Make it your own
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