wishy-washy
adjective
ˈwi-shē-ˌwȯ-shē 
-ˌwä-
1
: lacking in character or determination : ineffectual
wishy-washy leadership
2
: lacking in strength or flavor : weak
wishy-washy wines
wishy-washiness
noun
Examples of wishy-washy in a Sentence
this story is too wishy-washy; you need to add some verve to it
in a time of crisis the nation can ill afford wishy-washy leaders
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Wishy-washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wishy-washy. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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