Wussifying

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To make someone more cowardly or timid, often through excessive nurturing or coddling
2. To cause a person to become less assertive or strong-willed, frequently by sheltering them from challenges
3. To transform an individual into a weaker version of themselves, typically as a result of overprotective behavior

Etymology: "Wuss" is American slang, a word for a weak, cowardly or timid person, and "wussify" is simply that noun with the verbal suffix "-ify" attached, meaning to make someone into a wuss. The suffix comes from Latin "-ificare," via Old French "-ifier," and is the same ending found in words like "simplify" and "classify." Adding it to a slang noun is a common way English creates a fresh verb on the spot, which is why "wussify" reads as quite informal. The word "wuss" itself is the more mysterious part, and its exact origin is not firmly established, so it is best treated as a slang coinage rather than a word with a traceable classical ancestor. Its meaning has stayed close to the sense of weakness and timidity from the start, and the verb inherits that flavour directly, carrying the implication that someone has been made soft through overprotection or excessive comfort.

Synonyms: weakening, softening