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
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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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Examples of wishy-washy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For Allman, at the time a member of the oversight board, the wishy-washy language spelled trouble, a suspicion confirmed for him when the Veterans Collective put out a news release on its selection as the principal developer that focused solely on housing with no mention of a town center.
—
Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024
And if Scharf thought his old boss would come through for him, he was sadly disappointed: Trump issued yet another wishy-washy endorsement in this race, giving both candidates his seal of approval.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Harris, who has quickly become the presumptive Democratic nominee, has not spoken about a debate yet, while Trump has seemed wishy-washy since Biden ended his reelection bid.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 24 July 2024
There is a resounding belief among House Democrats — that was echoed in multiple wishy-washy statements this week — that Biden must make a decision on his campaign’s future on his own without much public pressure.
—Theodoric Meyer, Washington Post, 12 July 2024
And once the largest Democratic donors started to back away, top leaders in Congress went from firmly with Biden to wishy-washy.
—Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 12 July 2024
But director Annie Baker sets everything off-kilter as the story oscillates between Janet’s struggles with relationships and her wishy-washy attitude towards, well, everything.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 25 June 2024
Here's one thing Jason Kelce isn't wishy-washy about.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 12 June 2024
The script’s other failing is its wishy-washy wrap-up of the Bambina business.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 May 2024
Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024
And if Scharf thought his old boss would come through for him, he was sadly disappointed: Trump issued yet another wishy-washy endorsement in this race, giving both candidates his seal of approval.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Harris, who has quickly become the presumptive Democratic nominee, has not spoken about a debate yet, while Trump has seemed wishy-washy since Biden ended his reelection bid.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 24 July 2024
There is a resounding belief among House Democrats — that was echoed in multiple wishy-washy statements this week — that Biden must make a decision on his campaign’s future on his own without much public pressure.
—Theodoric Meyer, Washington Post, 12 July 2024
And once the largest Democratic donors started to back away, top leaders in Congress went from firmly with Biden to wishy-washy.
—Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 12 July 2024
But director Annie Baker sets everything off-kilter as the story oscillates between Janet’s struggles with relationships and her wishy-washy attitude towards, well, everything.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 25 June 2024
Here's one thing Jason Kelce isn't wishy-washy about.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 12 June 2024
The script’s other failing is its wishy-washy wrap-up of the Bambina business.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wishy-washy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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