adjective
wishy-washy
WISH-ee WOSH-ee
Wishy-washy (adjective) means lacking firmness or clear opinions; vague, indecisive and unwilling to commit to a position. Example: “He gave a wishy-washy answer that pleased nobody.”
adjective
1
informal Lacking firmness or clear opinions; vague, indecisive and unwilling to commit to a position.
"He gave a wishy-washy answer that pleased nobody."
"Stop being so wishy-washy and tell me whether you want to come."
2
informal Weak, pale or watery in colour, flavour or strength.
"The walls were painted a wishy-washy beige."
"This tea is wishy-washy — you barely let it brew."
How to use wishy-washy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWeak and not definite — either an opinion or a colour.
When to use it
Informal and always disapproving. Usually hyphenated.
Memory tip
Keep the hyphen; "wishy washy" as two words is a common misspelling.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
wishy-washy vs washy
wishy-washy vs indecisive
Common pairings
a wishy-washy answer
wishy-washy liberal
wishy-washy colours
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He gave a _____ answer that pleased nobody.
Etymology
A reduplication of "washy", meaning thin or watery, with vowel variation of the kind found in dilly-dally and knick-knack.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wishy-washy
See all rhymes for wishy-washy →Frequently asked questions
Is wishy-washy hyphenated?
Yes. The standard spelling in both British and American dictionaries is wishy-washy with a hyphen. Writing it as two separate words is treated as an error.
What is the difference between wishy-washy and indecisive?
Indecisive describes someone who cannot make up their mind, and is fairly neutral. Wishy-washy is informal and more scornful, suggesting a general lack of backbone or conviction rather than a single hard decision.
Can wishy-washy describe a colour?
Yes. Applied to colour, flavour or drinks it means pale, weak or watery — a wishy-washy pink, a wishy-washy soup.
What is the meaning of wishy-washy?
"wishy-washy" (adjective) means lacking firmness or clear opinions; vague, indecisive and unwilling to commit to a position.
