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
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Recent Examples of wishy-washy
However, Buxton wields the impact bat Philly’s wishy-washy lineup needs.
—
Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
While Hollywood was doing its best to evade or outright ignore the mostly wishy-washy efforts of the MPPDA to regulate throughout the 1920s, a figure was rising in the Midwest who would change all that.
—Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
Meanwhile, Minneapolis' Twin Cities Pride rejected Target's sponsorship dollars citing wishy-washy support of the LGBTQ+ community and its DEI rollbacks.
—Eleanor Hawkins, Axios, 8 May 2025
Even last season, with a wishy-washy regular-season defense, Indiana allowed the lowest 3-point attempt rate in the NBA, according to Cleaning The Glass.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Though perhaps that ambiguity is also the result of some wishy-washy writing.
—Shannon Keating, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
Worry less about appearing wishy-washy as Mercury goes retrograde.
—USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025
Read: His daughter was America’s first measles death in a decade
Kennedy’s wishy-washy comments about the measles vaccine may persuade more parents not to vaccinate their children—which means that more children will get sick, and perhaps die.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Nor did anyone blink when Shonda Rhimes set Scandal within the White House of a wishy-washy, adulterous GOP President who’d unwittingly stolen an election.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
While Hollywood was doing its best to evade or outright ignore the mostly wishy-washy efforts of the MPPDA to regulate throughout the 1920s, a figure was rising in the Midwest who would change all that.
—Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
Meanwhile, Minneapolis' Twin Cities Pride rejected Target's sponsorship dollars citing wishy-washy support of the LGBTQ+ community and its DEI rollbacks.
—Eleanor Hawkins, Axios, 8 May 2025
Even last season, with a wishy-washy regular-season defense, Indiana allowed the lowest 3-point attempt rate in the NBA, according to Cleaning The Glass.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Though perhaps that ambiguity is also the result of some wishy-washy writing.
—Shannon Keating, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
Worry less about appearing wishy-washy as Mercury goes retrograde.
—USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025
Read: His daughter was America’s first measles death in a decade
Kennedy’s wishy-washy comments about the measles vaccine may persuade more parents not to vaccinate their children—which means that more children will get sick, and perhaps die.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Nor did anyone blink when Shonda Rhimes set Scandal within the White House of a wishy-washy, adulterous GOP President who’d unwittingly stolen an election.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wishy-washy
Adjective
-
The bland Ballade is a lesser score by the late 19th and early 20th century British composer who deserves a revival for his more substantial works.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
In both vehicles he was played by George Reeves, polite, bland and not noticeably muscled.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Precious metals and mining stocks were weak across both markets.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
But Democrats see Earle-Sears as a far weaker candidate than Youngkin, operating a worse environment for the GOP.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
The main reason Jacksonville is so boring, FinanceBuzz found, is that much of its population is thinly scattered across the city.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
-
GoPro has also dropped a white version and a forest green version if black is too boring for you.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Amidst their insipid competition to win Harris’ favor, the three daughters lament that none of them will ever truly be their father’s favorite, as that title belongs to the daughter who never grew up: the actual youngest Sinclair daughter, Rosemary.—
Alyssa Davis,
People.com,
19 June 2025
-
Brazil were insipid at last summer’s Copa America and have gone downhill since.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
These attempts to reshape the narrative around China’s actions go way beyond cultural soft power.—
Isabelle Mayault,
The Dial,
8 July 2025
-
For ultimate comfort, the loveseat and chairs also include 3.9-inch foam cushions wrapped in soft cotton.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Generally, names as a kind of artist name are quite dull nowadays anyway.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 July 2025
-
Sometimes, an artist who is too long viewed as an outsider to Music City's style and sound will see the shine of the bright lights grow dull on their art.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Dickinson led off the semifinal game and roped a double off his metal bat that Smith said woke him up from a long, tiring day.—
Christopher Kamrani,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
-
After a tiring day walking around the parks, the most relaxing, soothing and healing experience is to sit out on the decks of the treehouse.—
Kissa Castaneda,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Without concrete data to support unconventional ideas, marketing executives often default to the path of least resistance: safe, banal, predictable campaigns.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Indeed, the banal predictability of Kornyev’s slowly mounting humiliations and disillusionments is very much the point.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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