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Definition of whippersnapper

whippersnapper

/ˈwɪp.ərˌsnæp.ər/
whip · per · snap · per
Plural:whippersnappers
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whippersnapper Lexical Profile

whippersnapper Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A young and inexperienced person considered to be presumptuous, impertinent, or overconfident.

Example

"The veteran carpenter grumbled that some young whippersnapper fresh out of trade school was trying to tell him how to measure joints."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for whippersnapper
Antonyms
View all antonyms for whippersnapper

Word Nuance & Usage

Primarily used in informal, mildly humorous, or old-fashioned contexts (frequently preceded by 'young') by an older speaker to chide someone younger who seems overly bold or disrespectful.

• Rhymes for whippersnapper

• Nearby Words

whiplash
whiplike
whipped
whippersnapper
whippet
whipping
whippoorwill

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in late 17th-century English, likely as a rhyming alteration of 'snippersnapper', or referring to an idle young fellow who stands around snapping a whip and making noise without doing productive work.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Whippersnapper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/whippersnapper
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