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wishy-washy

wish·y-wash·y
W w

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [wish-ee-wosh-ee, -waw-shee]
    • /ˈwɪʃ iˌwɒʃ i, -ˌwɔ ʃi/
    • /ˈwɪʃ.iˌwɒʃ.i/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [wish-ee-wosh-ee, -waw-shee]
    • /ˈwɪʃ iˌwɒʃ i, -ˌwɔ ʃi/

Definitions of wishy-washy word

  • adjective wishy-washy lacking in decisiveness; without strength or character; irresolute. 1
  • adjective wishy-washy washy or watery, as a liquid; thin and weak. 1
  • adjective wishy-washy soup, etc.: thin, bland 1
  • adjective wishy-washy ineffectual, lacking strength 1
  • adjective wishy-washy If you say that someone is wishy-washy, you are critical of them because their ideas are not firm or clear. 0
  • adjective wishy-washy lacking in substance, force, colour, etc 0

Information block about the term

Origin of wishy-washy

First appearance:

before 1685
One of the 48% oldest English words
First recorded in 1685-95; gradational compound based on washy

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Wishy-washy

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

wishy-washy popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 36% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 66% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

Synonyms for wishy-washy

adj wishy-washy

  • astraddle — with a leg on either side of something
  • banal — If you describe something as banal, you do not like it because you think that it is so ordinary that it is not at all effective or interesting.
  • banausic — merely mechanical; materialistic; utilitarian
  • betwixt and between — in an intermediate, indecisive, or middle position
  • bland — If you describe someone or something as bland, you mean that they are rather dull and unexciting.

adjective wishy-washy

  • anaemic — Someone who is anaemic suffers from anaemia.
  • anemic — Pathology. suffering from anemia.
  • fracturable — Capable of being fractured.
  • longanimous — Long-suffering; patient; showing self-control and restraint.
  • nerdy — Slang. of or like a nerd.

See also

Matching words

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