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
Prime Minister Conte, a lawyer, prefers looping, legalistic, wishy-washy sentences.
—
Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 11 Apr. 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
What wasn’t though was the wishy-washy nature laced along the rest of that news release.
—oregonlive, 30 Jan. 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
See All Example Sentences for washy
Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 11 Apr. 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
What wasn’t though was the wishy-washy nature laced along the rest of that news release.
—oregonlive, 30 Jan. 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
See All Example Sentences for washy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washy
Adjective
-
Williams, in a faded plaid shirt, gray hair sprouting from under a John Deere hat, paced.—
Molly Parker,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
-
While some might have a faded tie-dye shirt in the back of their closet and listen to the occasional Grateful Dead album, seniors across the spectrum are turning to cannabis—many for the first time.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Pair the duo with fairy lights, a thin linen runner, and more faux foliage to create a stunning seasonal scene.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
One moment, the Sound of Sleat is a sheet of silver under a pale sun; the next, wind drives rain sideways into the distillery’s courtyard, rattling the pagoda roof.—
Gina Pace,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Curiosity and possibly even lust play into their first encounter; part of the welcome complexity between this pale-skinned woman of substance and this tall, equally alabaster, formerly dead drink of water is the ambiguity in their initial interactions.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Moisture absorbed from the air returns as diluted desiccant to storage.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Your Way Dry Wash or a diluted shampoo, followed by a blow-dry to prevent mildew.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Asset-light new entrants like On The Beach, offering the protections of traditional package holiday providers while not owning any hotels or aircraft, have become big players.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
-
While the chain’s appeal included some modifications, such as a revised landscaping plan to help with light concerns, changes to traffic plans for the site were not offered.—
Rose Evans
September 10,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.—
Robert F. Service,
Science | AAAS,
3 Sep. 2020
-
The company reported a net loss during the first quarter of $3.9 million, or 11 cents diluted loss per share, compared to a net income of $4.3 million, or 12 cents dilute earnings per share over the same period last year.—
Paul Takahashi,
Houston Chronicle,
5 June 2018
Adjective
-
Horror of this scale has the effect of deadening words, making stories of the most unimaginable violence land with a dull thud.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The water wasn’t quite as hot as the Braun, and the coffee was just a hair duller in taste.—
Noah Kaufman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washy. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share