English Explanatory Dictionary

pissant

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An ant.
  2. An insignificant person.
  3. A person who adheres strictly to a rule or policy despite current circumstances.
  4. A person seemingly incapable of focusing on anything but the trivial, especially in the sense of trivial or irrelevant criticism.
adj
  1. Insignificant or unimportant.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɪsænt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-pissant.wav

Word forms

pissant pissants piss-ant more pissant most pissant

Etymology

From piss + ant, because of the urine-like smell of anthills. Compare pismire.

Synonyms

nobody base contemptible floccinaucinihilipilificatious foolish for the birds futile frivolous idle ignorable immaterial inconsequential inconsiderable indifferent insignificant like a fart in a windstorm meager mean minor miserable negligible nothingburger nondescript null paltry petty picayune picayunish piddling piddly pissant pissass piteous pitiful pointless silly simple slight ticky-tacky tin-pot trifling trivial two-bit unimportant unweighty vain worthless wretched
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