nebbish means one who is fearful, indecisive and timid, especially in making decisions and plans, in discussions, debates, arguments, and confrontations, and in taking responsibility. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 88 out of 100.
nebbish is pronounced /ˈnɛ.bɪʃ/.
Why “nebbish” is a great word
NEBBISH — [Noun] A person, especially a man, who is timid, ineffectual, and socially awkward. From American Yiddish *nebish*, from Yiddish *nebekh* (“poor, unfortunate one”). Unlike “milquetoast,” which conjures a literary archetype of bland timidity, or “doormat,” which emphasizes being exploited through submissiveness, a nebbish is defined by an innate, congenital pitifulness. He is the man whose umbrella inverts at the crucial moment, who apologizes to the coat rack he bumps into, whose hesitant 'excuse me' is swallowed by the room's noise—a quiet testament to a soul forever out of phase with the world's simple demands.
Etymology
From American Yiddish נעביש (nebish), from נעבעך (nebekh, “poor, unfortunate”).
noun
- One who is fearful, indecisive and timid, especially in making decisions and plans, in discussions, debates, arguments, and confrontations, and in taking responsibility.“Actor Rick Moranis often plays a nebbish.”