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
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
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
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
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
-
Pfeiffer is sensational, her Shyanne is a tough survivor and former Hooters server who’s preparing to wed a kind and rather bland preacher (Greg Kinnear).—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The movie does have a few additional in-concert scenes, but the songs, written and produced by Jack Antonoff and Charli xcx, just sound like a bland version of what they’re supposed to be.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This time, economists say the job market and consumer spending are weaker, and there are no large government stimulus checks being issued to spur demand.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Then, a strong hit by Sennecke on fellow rookie Michael Misa gave way to a weak clearing attempt by former King Tyler Toffoli.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This season has an annoying habit of taking what is an easy vote, trying to confuse us into getting excited that something interesting is going to happen, only for the easy and most boring thing to happen in the end.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The boring machine can excavate to extreme depths, according to a report.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Young children, travelers, gay or bisexual men, and those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of contracting Shigella, the CDC cautioned.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Testing failure Another error highlighted in the report involved recording inaccurate test results in September 2024 for a liver that tested positive for a common infection that can be deadly for people with weakened immune systems, such as transplant patients.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Framed sand dollars, ambiguous shoreline wall art, an plethora of rattan, an insipid white couch, sea turtle tchotchkes, and seashells displayed with reckless abandon.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Back-to-back insipid losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, which remain the low points of this campaign, had seen confidence on the terraces drain away.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Made for unwinding, dreaming and everything in between, this 100% organic cotton sleepwear is crafted from naturally soft, breathable fabric that keeps you comfortable all night long.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Earth Tone Collection currently offers several neutral colors—desert sand, warm beige, dune taupe, washed khaki, dusty olive, soft clay, muted terracotta and light stone—and the clients can create other custom colors.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The long layoff between seasons of Euphoria apparently didn’t dull viewers’ enthusiasm for the show.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
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Pastas and Grains Similar to powdered laundry detergent, pastas and grains have packaging that's dull, boring, and bulky.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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 18 Apr. 2026.
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