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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of wishy-washy
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
Forget about generic prints of Big Ben or wishy-washy seascapes in ill-fitting frames; here, expansive pieces span entire walls, palm trees climb through furniture, towers of baked-bean cans stand sentry, and hammers are purposefully lodged in the living room wall.
—Lucy Bruton, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2025
After a wishy-washy few days, Mel Owens is an engaged man.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025
Don’t worry, I won’t be wishy-washy: August is not an important month for jobs data since the whole nation tends to be in flux.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025
Much of the recent coverage cites wishy-washy export signals as having a major effect on Nvidia’s stock with the on-again, off-again nature of H20 sales to the Middle Kingdom shaking things up.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
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
Forget about generic prints of Big Ben or wishy-washy seascapes in ill-fitting frames; here, expansive pieces span entire walls, palm trees climb through furniture, towers of baked-bean cans stand sentry, and hammers are purposefully lodged in the living room wall.
—Lucy Bruton, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2025
After a wishy-washy few days, Mel Owens is an engaged man.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025
Don’t worry, I won’t be wishy-washy: August is not an important month for jobs data since the whole nation tends to be in flux.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025
Much of the recent coverage cites wishy-washy export signals as having a major effect on Nvidia’s stock with the on-again, off-again nature of H20 sales to the Middle Kingdom shaking things up.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wishy-washy
Adjective
-
Italian seasoning, Gruyère cheese, and roasted red peppers make this chicken anything but bland.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Nutritionists no longer recommend giving kids bland food, but the idea that children should eat different foods than adults nevertheless stuck.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The past four years of conflict have exposed more than one faulty assumption, not least the previously widespread belief even among Kyiv’s allies that Ukraine would be too weak, too disorganized, to resist a full-scale invasion.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Continue reading … PARTY RECKONING — Cortez Masto admits Democrats have been 'weak on immigration,' chides Biden.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Endless gastronomic delights, diverse architecture, and neighborhoods packed with character ensure visitors have everything but a boring trip to the large coastal metropolis.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Who says neutrals have to be boring?—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Infants and children under 5 years old, pregnant women and people with weakened immune symptoms are most at risk for complications from measles.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The illness can be dangerous or life-threatening, particularly to older adults, those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There was the insipid loss at St Andrew’s in August 2023, in Farke’s first season, a game that the wantaway pair of Wilfried Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra refused to play.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Even the most insipid formulaic pop nonsense can induce that almost mystical reflection of life if your connections to the time of its airplay are meaningful.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
They were headed home when the fresh snow, light and soft, suddenly descended from the slopes as one of the most ferocious forces of nature.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Your next best friend Weebles is the ultimate low-maintenance companion looking for a soft place to land in 2026!—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
So is, arguably in softer garb, the trend of trigger warnings, which—mirroring the grim cancer label on a pack of cigarettes—dull the impact of a product or dissuade users entirely by advising them that its consumption may be hazardous to their health.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
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These may just be the ordinary, dull rhythms of a relatively stable relationship, and yet these actors make the mundane so much more.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Imagine having all your bags unpacked, slipping into a robe and getting ready to take a long, hot shower at the end of a tiring day, only to realize that your showerhead is broken or the hot water isn’t heating appropriately.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
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And while the offense was flowing, the defense was suffocating a quickly tiring San Jose State squad.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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