milk-and-water

adjective

ˈmilk-ən(d)-ˈwȯ-tər How to pronounce milk-and-water (audio)
Definition of milk-and-waternext
1
as in bland
lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character a milk-and-water campaign speech that most likely did not inspire a single person

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weak
lacking strength of will or character we need to elect a leader with a bold vision, not someone who's been a milk-and-water yes-man all his life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for milk-and-water
  1. bland
  2. weak
  3. boring
  4. soft
  5. watery
  6. weakened
  7. insipid
  8. banal
Adjective
  • Focusing on efficiency and tools results in recycled, bland posts that are obviously inauthentic and can do as much harm as good to the organization's brand.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • But together, the whole is blander than the sum of its parts—a subtle banality humans can often implicitly sense.
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 29 June 2026
Definition of bland
Adjective
  • Still, the opposite tack—sanctions and isolation—has neither made the Iranian regime weaker nor made its behavior better.
    — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • And it should never be used to paper over weak management, chronic overload, or unresolved conflict.
    — Rick Tollakson, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • Far fewer people stay responsible when the work turns boring, unclear or inconvenient, and that's precisely when ownership surfaces.
    — Somdutta Singh, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Monocultures can be boring, but on the flipside, a huge collection of individual species looks like a busy bowl of potpourri.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Play soft music to drown out fireworks blasts and give your pet something to do, like putting treats inside an interactive toy, to keep them calm and happy.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • This relaxed pick is incredibly soft, really cute, and surprisingly easy to style.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 3 July 2026
Definition of soft
Adjective
  • The paper towel helps absorb excess moisture and prevents the tomato from turning watery too quickly.
    — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
  • Common signs include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, fever, and chills.
    — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of watery
Adjective
  • The bacterium can also lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication that is more common in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, according to the release.
    — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • While anyone can get sick, young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026
Definition of weakened
Adjective
  • That’s how long Thomas Tuchel’s team waited to produce a lifeless and insipid performance against Ghana that prompted many to re-evaluate the Three Lions’ chances of winning the whole thing this summer.
    — Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • Faced with insipid economic growth, politicians have not taken the action necessary to spark a resurgence, such as capital and digital markets reform, lower levels of regulation and lower business taxes.
    — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 21 May 2026
Definition of insipid
Adjective
  • Wemby didn’t hesitate, but since English isn’t his first language, his initial response — something banal about being a team player who wants to win a lot of games — came out a bit disjointed.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • Grief mangles cognition and memory in ways that can make even banal tasks feel surreal, if not impossible.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of banal
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.

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milk
milk-and-water
milked
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Cite this Entry

“Milk-and-water.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/milk-and-water. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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