Just What is a “Wuss” anyway?
I’ve always known what a “wuss” was, even as a 17 year old Marine Corps recruit in boot camp at Parris Island. Although at that point I believe I recall a wimp was the more popular descriptor of such a person. However, the word “wuss” isn’t always easy to define. I recall having a heck of a time helping my friend Roger in St. Thomas understand exactly what I meant when using that word.
When I typed “what is a wuss” in Google, it gave me a dictionary definition it indicated was from the Oxford Languages. That stated the following along with some examples of its use:
INFORMAL
noun
a weak or ineffectual person (often used as a general term of abuse).
“we are not just a group of shallow wusses”
verb
fail to do or complete something as a result of fear or lack of confidence.
“she’ll probably wuss out because she fears my mighty bowling prowess”
Various sites on the Internet also describe a wuss as being a weak, cowardly or ineffective person. I’ve even seen where being a wuss is compared to being a wimp.
I’ve heard the word “wuss” and its various forms, like wusses, wussie, and wussies for many years. I believe the word wuss has a derogatory connotation. I’d like to think that in my book, Wuss World, I am using it as an accurate descriptor of a state of mind that seems to have become something analogous to a growing cancer in today’s society. In a large sense, the phrase Wuss World generally would equate to the phrase wimp world – or a world full of wusses is indeed a world full of wimps.
The world seems to have gone crazy in many respects. I have really begun thinking there are far too many wusses in the world. I’m believing this may be contributing to many of the problems people face from all directions. In any event, I really believe I have to write it down or future generations would not believe it. I doubt I am the first to think of things in such terms.
