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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wishy-washy
Davide Costa stars as Cady’s wishy-washy romantic partner Aaron and Ryan Perry Marks is Kevin, the frenetic leader of the school math club.
—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
The entire, chaotic saga—a wishy-washy White House, confused statements from populist and tech-elite Trump whisperers—is only the latest in a long string of strange, often contradictory AI-policy positions.
—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2026
But a late-breaking twist may have set the second season (streaming now on Netflix) free from its wishy-washy roots.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Advertisement Mallory’s ruthlessness in the custody fight begins to alarm wishy-washy Karl.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 May 2026
While the market may seem wishy-washy on EVs right now, at least in the United States, most automakers with EVs already in the works are plowing forward.
—
Kristin Shaw,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
At the risk of sounding wishy-washy like Thomas Mann at his worst moments, that understanding of the full spectrum of experience in both types of society and all the attendant nuances that made neither order much better or worse than the other comes across affectingly here.
—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Someone who’s a little wishy-washy, depending on if the cameras are up, that would definitely be messy Ashley Darby.
—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
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
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
The entire, chaotic saga—a wishy-washy White House, confused statements from populist and tech-elite Trump whisperers—is only the latest in a long string of strange, often contradictory AI-policy positions.
—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2026
But a late-breaking twist may have set the second season (streaming now on Netflix) free from its wishy-washy roots.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Advertisement Mallory’s ruthlessness in the custody fight begins to alarm wishy-washy Karl.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 May 2026
While the market may seem wishy-washy on EVs right now, at least in the United States, most automakers with EVs already in the works are plowing forward.
—
Kristin Shaw,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
At the risk of sounding wishy-washy like Thomas Mann at his worst moments, that understanding of the full spectrum of experience in both types of society and all the attendant nuances that made neither order much better or worse than the other comes across affectingly here.
—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Someone who’s a little wishy-washy, depending on if the cameras are up, that would definitely be messy Ashley Darby.
—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wishy-washy
Adjective
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But together, the whole is blander than the sum of its parts—a subtle banality humans can often implicitly sense.
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The smallest pieces will turn a bland outfit into an Instagram-worthy moment.
Adjective
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Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
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In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
Adjective
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Far fewer people stay responsible when the work turns boring, unclear or inconvenient, and that's precisely when ownership surfaces.
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Monocultures can be boring, but on the flipside, a huge collection of individual species looks like a busy bowl of potpourri.
Adjective
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And while Creger still thought the bill was positive, she was disappointed to see the weakened language around adding lanes to highways.
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The weakened plants are more susceptible to insects and disease pests.
Adjective
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That’s how long Thomas Tuchel’s team waited to produce a lifeless and insipid performance against Ghana that prompted many to re-evaluate the Three Lions’ chances of winning the whole thing this summer.
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Faced with insipid economic growth, politicians have not taken the action necessary to spark a resurgence, such as capital and digital markets reform, lower levels of regulation and lower business taxes.
Adjective
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Play soft music to drown out fireworks blasts and give your pet something to do, like putting treats inside an interactive toy, to keep them calm and happy.
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This relaxed pick is incredibly soft, really cute, and surprisingly easy to style.
Adjective
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But all work and no play can make for a dull chief scientific officer.
-
The great speculators became talkative and communicative or dull, sullen, silent, and peevish.
Adjective
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The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
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The chassis exhibits little flex, the buttons feel crisp and responsive, and the scroll wheel offers enough resistance to feel deliberate without becoming tiring.
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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