simp.
Someone accused of excessive devotion or deference to another person; as a verb, to admire or praise in an exaggerated, deferential way.
What does simp mean?
Calling someone a simp accuses them of putting another person on a pedestal or being excessively deferential. It can be an insult, while a speaker may use it self-mockingly about their own admiration. The verb simp describes that kind of behavior.
The accusation is a judgment by the speaker, not evidence that ordinary kindness is foolish or that attraction creates an obligation. Older fool or simpleton meanings also exist. Read whether a sentence is insulting someone, joking about fandom or describing an individual’s own feelings.
See how it lands.
Original examples written for this entry, not quotations from the sources.
I am such a simp for that actor’s performances.
The replies called him a simp for agreeing with her.
The right word.
The right moment.
Recognize its evaluative tone when interpreting a comment. If you mean admiration or kindness, those words avoid importing an accusation of foolish deference.
Avoid using it to shame ordinary respect or assuming that the label proves a person’s motives. Self-mockery and an insult aimed at someone else land differently.
Not quite the same as…
glazing
Glazing emphasizes excessive praise. Simp can emphasize excessive personal devotion or deference, so the words overlap without always describing the same thing.
A little backstory.
The linked reference documents this meaning. This entry does not establish a single inventor or a first-use date; a dictionary record and a current popularity measurement answer different questions.
Supported by Wiktionary contributors
Still wondering?
Is simp a compliment?
It can be playful self-mockery, but as an accusation it is derogatory. Check who is choosing the label and what they are criticizing.
Does being kind make someone a simp?
No. The label expresses a claim about excess or deference. Ordinary kindness alone does not establish that claim.
Sources & checks
Meaning and factual notes are informed by the references below. Examples and usage advice are original editorial writing. A source documents use; it does not measure current popularity.
- simp — meaning and usage ↗Wiktionary contributors · checked 20 Oct 2026Supports: meaning; distinct senses