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
Nor did anyone blink when Shonda Rhimes set Scandal within the White House of a wishy-washy, adulterous GOP President who’d unwittingly stolen an election.
—
Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
Lewis Lupton Photo: Bravo/Vincent Cerone/Bravo Bosun Below Deck Adventure
Season 1
—
Usually bosuns are too overbearing, but this one was too wishy-washy.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2024
Not wishy-washy George Clooney, not low-life Mark Ruffalo, not obnoxious Edward Norton, not freaky boho Johnny Depp, not wimpy Ryan Gosling or nondescript Glen Powell.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Dec. 2024
MasterClass Online Courses $10+ Buy Now on masterclass From cooking lessons with Gordon Ramsay to film 101 with David Lynch, MasterClass’ impressive roster of online classes taught by industry pros gives the wishy-washy giftee of yours plenty of unique options to utilize throughout the winter.
—Mia Maguire, StyleCaster, 11 Dec. 2024
People buy specific results, not wishy-washy words.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
This isn’t some abstract, wishy-washy exercise either.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
My hands move around everywhere, my rhythm is very fast and inarticulate and often a bit wishy-washy.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 July 2024
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
Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
Lewis Lupton Photo: Bravo/Vincent Cerone/Bravo Bosun Below Deck Adventure
Season 1
—
Usually bosuns are too overbearing, but this one was too wishy-washy.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2024
Not wishy-washy George Clooney, not low-life Mark Ruffalo, not obnoxious Edward Norton, not freaky boho Johnny Depp, not wimpy Ryan Gosling or nondescript Glen Powell.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Dec. 2024
MasterClass Online Courses $10+ Buy Now on masterclass From cooking lessons with Gordon Ramsay to film 101 with David Lynch, MasterClass’ impressive roster of online classes taught by industry pros gives the wishy-washy giftee of yours plenty of unique options to utilize throughout the winter.
—Mia Maguire, StyleCaster, 11 Dec. 2024
People buy specific results, not wishy-washy words.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
This isn’t some abstract, wishy-washy exercise either.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
My hands move around everywhere, my rhythm is very fast and inarticulate and often a bit wishy-washy.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 July 2024
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wishy-washy
Adjective
-
If the bland season premiere is any indication, don’t expect many of those this year.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vox,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Their beiges aren’t at all bland and boring—quite the opposite, actually.—
Shanna Shipin,
Glamour,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Salesforce shares fell in extended trading Wednesday on mixed quarterly results and weak guidance.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
-
There aren’t enough affordable ones and the charging infrastructure is weak.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The whole thing also looks pretty—budget and midrange phones tend to be super boring, but the Pixel 8A has a smart design with a matte rear texture.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Buck is a loquacious, glad-handing oaf who has a boring way with a witty story, and is marked for death.—
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
At the far extreme, there is the insipid libertarianism of Ron Paul, the former Texas representative, who has claimed that Marine detachments guarding U.S. embassies count as examples of military overstretch.—
Bret Stephens,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Feb. 2013
-
The blandly positive lyrics seemed even more insipid amid all the bedroom jams.—
Eric Webb,
Austin American-Statesman,
1 June 2024
Adjective
-
Their emphasis on key soft skill behaviors makes everybody in the organization much better—even the youngest, least experienced employees.—
Bruce Tulgan,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
-
As for the future, Leopold suggests that soft skills will play a major role.—
Ryan Johnston,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Preview Robert De Niro's Netflix thriller 'Zero Day' is a starry but dull dud: Review Patrick Schwarzenegger is 'White Lotus' Season 3 breakout, and dad Arnold is pumped Donnie Wahlberg is heading to 'Blue Bloods' Boston spinoff Ralph Macchio and William Zabka were 'Karate Kid' rivals.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
-
This portable, rollerball serum can be used twice a day on dull, uneven, and post-blemish skin.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This Atlético Madrid side is going from strength to strength and is showing little sign of tiring even as the pressure heats up.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
-
The first few years of being a parent can be among the most tiring as moms and dads try and often fail to get infants into a regular routine of unbroken sleep at night.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The thundering poet termed the result uninspired and banal, so the other professor went into Dickinson’s 1,800-poem corpus, retrieved an obscure quatrain and presented it to the poet, who called the result banal and uninspired.—
David Galef,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
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Seeking Clues in Cabinet Cards The poignant images, at once banal and intimate, in the Lynch Family Photographs Collection contain mysteries perhaps only the public can solve.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wishy-washy. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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