1
as in bland
lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character
this story is too wishy-washy; you need to add some verve to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weak
lacking strength of will or character
in a time of crisis the nation can ill afford wishy-washy leaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wishy-washy
Not wishy-washy George Clooney, not low-life Mark Ruffalo, not obnoxious Edward Norton, not freaky boho Johnny Depp, not wimpy Ryan Gosling or nondescript Glen Powell.
—
Armond White, National Review, 18 Dec. 2024
MasterClass Online Courses $10+ Buy Now on masterclass From cooking lessons with Gordon Ramsay to film 101 with David Lynch, MasterClass’ impressive roster of online classes taught by industry pros gives the wishy-washy giftee of yours plenty of unique options to utilize throughout the winter.
—Mia Maguire, StyleCaster, 11 Dec. 2024
People buy specific results, not wishy-washy words.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
This isn’t some abstract, wishy-washy exercise either.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
My hands move around everywhere, my rhythm is very fast and inarticulate and often a bit wishy-washy.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 July 2024
For Allman, at the time a member of the oversight board, the wishy-washy language spelled trouble, a suspicion confirmed for him when the Veterans Collective put out a news release on its selection as the principal developer that focused solely on housing with no mention of a town center.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024
And if Scharf thought his old boss would come through for him, he was sadly disappointed: Trump issued yet another wishy-washy endorsement in this race, giving both candidates his seal of approval.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Harris, who has quickly become the presumptive Democratic nominee, has not spoken about a debate yet, while Trump has seemed wishy-washy since Biden ended his reelection bid.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 24 July 2024
Armond White, National Review, 18 Dec. 2024
MasterClass Online Courses $10+ Buy Now on masterclass From cooking lessons with Gordon Ramsay to film 101 with David Lynch, MasterClass’ impressive roster of online classes taught by industry pros gives the wishy-washy giftee of yours plenty of unique options to utilize throughout the winter.
—Mia Maguire, StyleCaster, 11 Dec. 2024
People buy specific results, not wishy-washy words.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
This isn’t some abstract, wishy-washy exercise either.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
My hands move around everywhere, my rhythm is very fast and inarticulate and often a bit wishy-washy.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 July 2024
For Allman, at the time a member of the oversight board, the wishy-washy language spelled trouble, a suspicion confirmed for him when the Veterans Collective put out a news release on its selection as the principal developer that focused solely on housing with no mention of a town center.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024
And if Scharf thought his old boss would come through for him, he was sadly disappointed: Trump issued yet another wishy-washy endorsement in this race, giving both candidates his seal of approval.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Harris, who has quickly become the presumptive Democratic nominee, has not spoken about a debate yet, while Trump has seemed wishy-washy since Biden ended his reelection bid.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 24 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wishy-washy
Adjective
-
Vodka, on the other hand, bucked the trend and saw an increase of 32 percent in value, showing that this spirits category, despite its bland reputation, remains incredibly popular.Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 Dec. 2024
-
Additionally, its menus look bland and dull, seemingly slapped together to make the mode playable.Echo Apsey, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Area roads could become dangerously slick Monday morning as a weak system is expected to bring freezing rain overnight, according to the National Weather Service.Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
-
Houston will be a weaker team in 2025, but one Brown still believes can capture an American League West championship.Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
If films like Nosferatu don’t find a wide audience and thrive in the marketplace, cinema faces a very bland, boring future.Scott Phillips, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
-
Either way, the winter garden is anything but boring.Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
At the far extreme, there is the insipid libertarianism of Ron Paul, the former Texas representative, who has claimed that Marine detachments guarding U.S. embassies count as examples of military overstretch.Bret Stephens, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2013
-
The blandly positive lyrics seemed even more insipid amid all the bedroom jams.Eric Webb, Austin American-Statesman, 1 June 2024
Adjective
-
Chadwick says that over the last 10 years, football has acted as a glue: managing the country’s image and profile through soft power and diplomacy.Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
-
Smooth a small amount onto dry hair to revive soft definition in your second- or third-day curls.Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
From designing cutting-edge medical devices to building electric vehicles in the factory of the future—using robots, AI, VR, automation and more—manufacturing is anything but dull.Ethan Karp, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
-
Simeone’s side slumped to a dull 1-0 defeat, with extra embarrassment as Felix — then exiled on loan at Barca — proved to be the matchwinner.Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
As for food, those tiring of tagine may be glad of the West African restaurants tucked away within the medina.Elle Benson Easton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024
-
That eliminates long, tiring road transfers, and allows more time in the bush.Holden Frith, The Week UK, theweek, 26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
But the most sinister aspect of the movie, to me, is how banal its serial rapists are—how corny and ineffectual, these cringeworthy failsons.Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
-
Both projects share a similar eye for the grotesquerie of the banal, with a generally condescending perspective toward rural desperation.Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near wishy-washy
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share