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
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
-
An impressive revolving stage, which displayed both the exterior of the bank and the bland lobby inside, toggled smoothly between scenes.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An atmospheric river should track across California, even into southern California, by Tuesday, March 31, but is currently forecast to remain too weak to cause flooding issues, the WPC said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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At the hospital in Dollow, mothers sat shoulder to shoulder on narrow beds holding frail children, some too weak to cry while others let out soft whimpers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Simply, Florida’s Pro Day was as boring as ever.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Given a list, the sorts of things Americans are comfortable with AI doing tend to be impersonal or even boring tasks, as well as those that less directly impact them, like proofreading or searching online.—
Anthony Salvanto,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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These categories include young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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Niacin was also found to restore function in weakened immune cells, improving their ability to target and destroy tumor cells.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
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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
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This is not to say that Rødland has gone soft, exactly, though the show does include two tender shots of his own young children.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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Inside, the forest green walls, soft, cozy lighting and vintage decor only add to the element of whimsy.—
Samantha Husted,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The employees of Rockin’ Grandma’s roam the grounds of the retreat site, which boasts multiple structures, and are visited by a series of guest speakers whose lectures range from the merely dull to the truly Dada.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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Charvet’s ethos is about discretion, but the clothes are not dull.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When swallowing becomes difficult, eating can feel tiring or uncomfortable.—
Sundeep Venkatesan,
The Conversation,
23 Mar. 2026
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And adopting the mantle of cultural curmudgeon can get tiring.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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