whippersnapper

noun

whip·​per·​snap·​per ˈ(h)wi-pər-ˌsna-pər 

: a diminutive, insignificant, or presumptuous person

Synonyms

• cipher
• dwarf
• half-pint
• insect
• insignificancy
• lightweight
• morsel
• nobody
• nonentity
• nothing
• nullity
• number
• pip-squeak
• pygmy
• pigmy
• shrimp
• snippersnapper
• twerp
• zero
• zilch

Examples of whippersnapper in a Sentence

some young whippersnapper piped up with a pointless comment

Recent Examples on the Web

Like his character, his powers haven’t dimmed with age, whatever the whippersnappers might think, and if both have made a few bad decisions in a long career, not even Superman is perfect anymore. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025

Chalamet is just 29 — a whippersnapper in AARP terms. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019

The Jets were young whippersnappers in 2022, a team that wasn’t supposed to be any good but jumped out to a 6-3 record powered by a remarkable rookie class. —Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, private investigator Julie (Estrada) seeks an investigative assistant but isn't in the market to hire a young whippersnapper. —Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of snippersnapper

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whippersnapper

• capper
• clapper
• dapper
• flapper
• kapur
• mapper
• napper
• rapper
• sapper
• snapper
• tapper
• trapper

Kids Definition

whippersnapper

noun

whip·​per·​snap·​per ˈhwip-ər-ˌsnap-ər 

ˈwip-

: a small, unimportant, or overly confident person