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
Example 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
Though perhaps that ambiguity is also the result of some wishy-washy writing.
—
Shannon Keating, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
Worry less about appearing wishy-washy as Mercury goes retrograde.
—USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025
Read: His daughter was America’s first measles death in a decade
Kennedy’s wishy-washy comments about the measles vaccine may persuade more parents not to vaccinate their children—which means that more children will get sick, and perhaps die.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Nor did anyone blink when Shonda Rhimes set Scandal within the White House of a wishy-washy, adulterous GOP President who’d unwittingly stolen an election.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
Lewis Lupton Photo: Bravo/Vincent Cerone/Bravo Bosun Below Deck Adventure
Season 1
—
Usually bosuns are too overbearing, but this one was too wishy-washy.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2024
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
Shannon Keating, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
Worry less about appearing wishy-washy as Mercury goes retrograde.
—USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025
Read: His daughter was America’s first measles death in a decade
Kennedy’s wishy-washy comments about the measles vaccine may persuade more parents not to vaccinate their children—which means that more children will get sick, and perhaps die.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Nor did anyone blink when Shonda Rhimes set Scandal within the White House of a wishy-washy, adulterous GOP President who’d unwittingly stolen an election.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
Lewis Lupton Photo: Bravo/Vincent Cerone/Bravo Bosun Below Deck Adventure
Season 1
—
Usually bosuns are too overbearing, but this one was too wishy-washy.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2024
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wishy-washy
Adjective
-
The tone is all over the place, whipping back and forth between end-of-the-world seriousness and bland comedy.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
28 Jan. 2025
-
But the stories themselves are on the bland and predictable side, whether as individual pieces or combined together across these multiple genres.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Dell Technologies’ balance sheet appears relatively weak.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Then, McIlroy hit a weak drive to the right and was blocked by pines.—
Time,
Time,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
These anything but boring side dishes let the bounty of the season shine in new and exciting ways.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Take it from this guy, who bought the beautiful Starfield limited-edition Xbox controller, headset, and console wrap for over $200, only to play the game and dump it after 20 boring hours.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Bored of an increasingly insipid Premier League season?—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
-
The framing, blocking, and overall visual grammar have a condescending air, as if directors have surrendered to some insipid idea of who their audience is.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Lightweight Sweats Classic Zip Hoodie is incredibly soft and pairs beautifully with their ultra-soft ribbed pieces like the Ribbed Modal Body Long Sleeve.—
Sarah Boyd,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Crafted from lightweight, sturdy beechwood, this pro-kneading, lymphatic-draining tool is designed with soft, rounded edges that make for comfy gliding across your skin (go ahead and pair it with a serum or lotion for extra slip).—
Allure,
Allure,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
For the rest of us, a real musical comedy is a cause for celebration; most are either too tuneless to be musicals or too dull to be comedies.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The additional compounds in matcha dull this effect.—
Helen Carefoot,
Verywell Health,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ultimately, many on the internet have identified this week as a particularly tiring one for Black K-pop fans.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Of course, going from shows to pickleball classes to after-hours jam sessions at B.B. King’s Blues Club can be tiring.—
DeMarco Williams,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As the handful of creature types repeat, the battles become banal.—
Harold Goldberg,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
And their replacement represents an increasingly dismal view of the city’s future — dull, uninspired and thoughtlessly banal.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share