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

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

And don’t worry, that handsome whippersnapper Jesse Palmer will be there to lend a sympathetic ear along the way. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 19 Sep. 2024

And winning against all these young whippersnappers still has this clock in shock. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 9 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of snippersnapper

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

whippersnapper

noun

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

ˈwip-

: a small, unimportant, or overly confident person