1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
the supposedly rich rose she had chosen for the house unexpectedly came out a washy pinkish shade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thin
not containing very much of some important element
the economy needs some strong medicine right now, and our leaders are offering only washy gruel
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 washy
What wasn’t though was the wishy-washy nature laced along the rest of that news release.
—
oregonlive, 30 Jan. 2020
Despite the occasional box-checking, wishy-washy comment slapping Beijing on the wrist for the worst of its abuses, the reality is that the former vice president’s support of the People’s Republic of China is deep and longstanding.
—Tom Cotton, National Review, 11 Mar. 2020
Joe Biden’s wishy-washy foreign policy record could be a liability for him in the wake of President Trump’s ordered strike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
—Emily Larsen, Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2020
There’s a big part of me now wondering if either the Ducks or the Beavers should even want the wishy-washy act of Williams.
—John Canzano | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 27 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for washy
oregonlive, 30 Jan. 2020
Despite the occasional box-checking, wishy-washy comment slapping Beijing on the wrist for the worst of its abuses, the reality is that the former vice president’s support of the People’s Republic of China is deep and longstanding.
—Tom Cotton, National Review, 11 Mar. 2020
Joe Biden’s wishy-washy foreign policy record could be a liability for him in the wake of President Trump’s ordered strike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
—Emily Larsen, Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2020
There’s a big part of me now wondering if either the Ducks or the Beavers should even want the wishy-washy act of Williams.
—John Canzano | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 27 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for washy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washy
Adjective
-
Select a faded flower and follow the stem down, cutting it 12 inches or more below the bloom, deep into the plant to encourage more long stems.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 June 2025
-
Some geckos have higher contrast in their coloring, while others appear more faded.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Though no longer lofty, at close range these mountains are still impressive and assertive, rising in sheer cliffs hundreds of feet high above the beating surf, bare rock capped by a thin layer of soil and long grassy turf, spilling dozens of small cascades over and down narrow ravines into the sea.—
Robert Finch
June 18,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2025
-
There is some thought that Epenesa could be an expendable player via trade ahead of final cuts, but that would leave them fairly thin given that Hoecht is suspended for the first six games and Bosa has a lengthy injury history, and already has one minor injury to his name since joining the Bills.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Their signature three-circle motif floating on a pale sea invites questions and provokes fantasies.—
Dorothy Armstrong
June 18,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2025
-
Anderson, a warm yet reserved figure sporting a pale blue suit with a red tie and the Jamaican flag proudly pinned to his lapel, said leadership and focus are essential, now more than ever.—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Use a diluted cinnamon spray to fight fungal diseases such as gray mold and tomato blight, and help protect young seedlings from damping off.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
6 June 2025
-
Even stronger-than-expected first quarter results For the quarter ended May 2, Dollar General’s net sales rose 5.3% to $10.4 billion, same-store sales climbed 2.4%, and diluted earnings per share increased 7.9% to $1.78.—
Catherine Baab,
Quartz,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
The researchers analyzed satellite data on the open ocean collected from 2003 to 2022 by a NASA instrument that combs through the planet every two days to measure light wavelength, according to the paper.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
19 June 2025
-
And the handset measures 179 x 86 x 31 mm (7 x 3.4 x 1.2 in), and weighs in lighter than the 3 Pro at 530 g (18.7 oz).—
Paul Ridden
June 19,
New Atlas,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Vinegar, which is really dilute acetic acid, will help the milk curdle by further denaturing the whey proteins and neutralizing negative charges at the surface of casein micelles.—
Liz Roth-Johnson,
Discover Magazine,
12 Feb. 2013
-
However toxic a substance may be, the amount of exposure received by the general population is very dilute.—
George Johnson,
Discover Magazine,
8 July 2013
Adjective
-
There are a few family members who only wear olive, mustard, khaki, black and other dull colors; clunky, unattractive shoes; and few accessories.—
Judith Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
-
Age Defense Retinol Complex 0.5 is no exception, which shines with its abilities to reduce the look of fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and overall dull skin.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washy. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share