wishy-washy

adjective

ˈwi-shē-ˌwȯ-shē How to pronounce wishy-washy (audio)
Definition of wishy-washynext
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

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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 But a late-breaking twist may have set the second season (streaming now on Netflix) free from its wishy-washy roots. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 28 May 2026 Advertisement Mallory’s ruthlessness in the custody fight begins to alarm wishy-washy Karl. — Judy Berman, Time, 20 May 2026 While the market may seem wishy-washy on EVs right now, at least in the United States, most automakers with EVs already in the works are plowing forward. — Kristin Shaw, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026 At the risk of sounding wishy-washy like Thomas Mann at his worst moments, that understanding of the full spectrum of experience in both types of society and all the attendant nuances that made neither order much better or worse than the other comes across affectingly here. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wishy-washy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wishy-washy
  1. bland
  2. weak
  3. boring
  4. weakened
  5. insipid
  6. soft
  7. dull
  8. tiring
Adjective
  • However, this new research suggests that this slightly bland and uniform appearance is because no white dwarf is close enough for Earthbound astronomers to see their true colors.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The high-wire act that followed—in which performers had to make these bland conceits into something funny without, ostensibly, preparing any jokes in advance—introduced a tension that made sketch shows feel sedate and uneven by comparison.
    — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of bland
Adjective
  • The age-old advice of keeping your passwords secure and being wary of suspicious emails is more important than ever as hackers gain more sophisticated tools and use AI to find more of the internet’s weak points.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Analysts expect profits and assets to cover the dividend through weaker timber periods.
    — Sebastien Chasse, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • Infrastructure inspection is exactly the kind of boring but highly practical application that modern airships excel at, Grossman says.
    — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Milwaukee Brewers won what was, ultimately, a bit of a boring World Series in five games.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Less than a month after acquiring McCarthy in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, the Giants are turning to the 23-year-old quarterback to try to lead them to the playoffs in a weakened NFC East.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Most enamel-repair products rely on remineralization, which puts minerals back into weakened enamel using ingredients like fluoride, calcium, phosphate or hydroxyapatite.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakened
Adjective
  • In the meantime, there’s a lot of unwieldy comic commotion involving a missing corpse, a tweaking, naked Dwight and enough insipid TV sibling bickering to clog the airwaves for a decade.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Otherwise, the defence failed to defend, the midfield got overrun and the attack was so insipid that Wrexham managed just one shot on target — George Dobson’s 35th-minute effort that Konstantinos Mavropanos blocked just in front of the goal line.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of insipid
Adjective
  • The Dolce Vita bob runs longer with soft, flowing layers, which sets it apart from the shorter, tighter shapes most associated with vintage glamour.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The hybrid shoe looks like a pretty suede flat but is lined by ultra soft fluff that gives it a cozy slipper feel.
    — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of soft
Adjective
  • Like scoops of an ocean unmarred by humans, quarts of seaweed soup sit next to other flavors like spicy beef and pine nut and soybean, a shade of creamy beige so calming, one glance is enough to effectively absolve the color of its dull reputation.
    — Vanessa Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • If your skin's looking a little dull or feeling rough, the best alpha hydroxy acid products might be exactly what your routine is missing.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Tommy Gemmell, advanced from left-back, provided the equaliser on 63 minutes and with Inter tiring and Celtic still pushing, Chalmers scored the famous winner with six minutes left.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But after a while, the lack of grounding gets tiring, as various supernatural shenanigans appear to be determined more by plot convenience than anything else.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tiring

Browse Nearby Words

wishy-washiness
wishy-washy
wising (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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