wishy-washy
adjective
ˈwi-shē-ˌwȯ-shē 
-ˌwä-
1
: lacking in character or determination : ineffectual
wishy-washy leadership
2
: lacking in strength or flavor : weak
wishy-washy wines
wishy-washiness
noun
Examples of wishy-washy in a Sentence
this story is too wishy-washy; you need to add some verve to it
in a time of crisis the nation can ill afford wishy-washy leaders
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Someone who’s a little wishy-washy, depending on if the cameras are up, that would definitely be messy Ashley Darby.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 6 May 2026
And wishy-washy responses to lawmakers’ questions, should the economy take a turn for the worse, are unlikely to fly.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
These are redemption raps with only the vaguest sense of what redemption might look like, a wishy-washy desire to both stomp the haters and be widely loved again.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
The Moon wills the chart and can make a wishy-washy Libra decisive and direct.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
And this isn't some wishy-washy concept.
—Will Stone, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026
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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
Someone who’s a little wishy-washy, depending on if the cameras are up, that would definitely be messy Ashley Darby.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 6 May 2026
And wishy-washy responses to lawmakers’ questions, should the economy take a turn for the worse, are unlikely to fly.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
These are redemption raps with only the vaguest sense of what redemption might look like, a wishy-washy desire to both stomp the haters and be widely loved again.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
The Moon wills the chart and can make a wishy-washy Libra decisive and direct.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
And this isn't some wishy-washy concept.
—Will Stone, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wishy-washy. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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