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
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
After last week’s hard-line family-resemblance death panel overseen by Bobchelle Visage, this is entirely too subjective and wishy-washy.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 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
There’s also the part where Suárez has been relatively healthy, which is a wishy-washy description for a reason.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
But unlike a presidential year when constant coverage and social pressure pushes weak partisans and wishy-washy leaners into the pool, the midterms belong to the unicorn voters — those with a high likelihood to vote but a low partisan attachment.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2026
After a wishy-washy few days, Mel Owens is an engaged man.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025
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
After last week’s hard-line family-resemblance death panel overseen by Bobchelle Visage, this is entirely too subjective and wishy-washy.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 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
There’s also the part where Suárez has been relatively healthy, which is a wishy-washy description for a reason.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
But unlike a presidential year when constant coverage and social pressure pushes weak partisans and wishy-washy leaners into the pool, the midterms belong to the unicorn voters — those with a high likelihood to vote but a low partisan attachment.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2026
After a wishy-washy few days, Mel Owens is an engaged man.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wishy-washy
Adjective
-
Tile backsplashes elevate the space, offering visual and textural appeal that keeps it from feeling too bland or one-note.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Potato flautas, a vegetarian dish with fresh avocado, cotija cheese and a guajillo chile salsa were also well executed, but unfortunately bland, with those mashed potatoes in the filling needing more salt.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Based on the popular 1960s spy sitcom, this weak adaptation casts Steve Carell as a bumbling secret agent, with Hathaway as his more competent partner and developing love interest.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
In particular, researchers experimentally demonstrated quadsqueezing, a complex fourth-order quantum interaction previously considered too weak to observe.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Never gets boring, never feels overplayed.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
1 May 2026
-
Pool, sauna, indoor fireplace, luggage drop-off, backyard With so much history and color around every corner in Marrakesh, why stay somewhere boring?—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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However, people younger than 5 and older than 65, and those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe symptoms and require treatment or hospitalization.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Illnesses may be more severe for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.—
Addy Bink,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But the absence of those elements isn’t what breaks this insipid biopic.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Damn good flat whites, by the way, at Grounds Club, for those who despair of insipid cruise coffee.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sites that preserve soft-bodied organisms are even rarer because soft tissues decompose more easily, making these places especially useful for piecing together prehistoric ecosystems.—
Marlowe Starling,
Quanta Magazine,
1 May 2026
-
Larsson and Pink have penned a postcard to their respective home countries while flexing the global soft power afforded, at least in part, by their international alliance.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The same study notes that the hormonal cascade may even dull pain by activating peripheral nerves and autonomic pathways.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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Expecting dull days and strict rules, the boy instead stumbles into a world of delightful chaos and imagination – where outrageous stories are spun, and a world of wonder, memory and mischief unfolds.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Flimsy nozzles crack and leak, and heavy-duty nozzles get tiring to hold when your garden calls for more watering time than your hands can handle.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Swift herself talked about how tiring the tour was and what her plans for the future were last October on BBC Radio 1 with Greg James.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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