wishy-washy

wishy-washy
I
(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)
adj. washed-out, anemic, colorless; weak-kneed or -willed, spineless, irresolute, feeble, vacillating. See insipidity, weakness.
II
(Roget's IV) modif.
1. [Watery]
Syn. insipid, thin, diluted, weak, bland; see also tasteless 1 .
2. [Weak]
Syn. feeble, spineless, lily-livered, yellow-bellied; see weak 3 .
3. [Indecisive]
Syn. vacilLating, irresolute, fence-sitting, mealy-mouthed; see doubtful 2 .
III
(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) a.
indecisive, irresolute, undecided, blowing hot and cold, equivocating, vacillating, feeble, weak, spineless.
ANT.: resolute, decisive, decided
IV
(Roget's Thesaurus II) adjective Informal. Lacking the qualities requisite for spiritedness and originality: bland, innocuous, insipid, jejune, namby-pamby, vapid, washy, waterish, watery. See EXCITE, GOOD.

English dictionary for students. 2013.

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  • Wishy-washy — Wish y wash y, a. [See {Wash}.] Thin and pale; weak; without strength or substance; originally said of liquids. Fig., weak minded; spiritless. [1913 Webster] A weak wishy washy man who had hardly any mind of his own. A. Trollope. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wishy-washy — [wish′ē wôsh΄ē] adj. [redupl. of WASHY] Informal 1. watery; insipid; thin 2. a) weak; feeble b) vacillating; indecisive wishy washily adv …   English World dictionary

  • wishy-washy — 1690s, feeble or poor in quality, reduplication of washy thin, watery (see WASH (Cf. wash)). Meaning vacillating first recorded 1873 …   Etymology dictionary

  • Wishy-washy — Wish y wash y, n. A weak or thin drink or liquor; wish wash. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wishy-washy — *insipid, vapid, flat, jejune, banal, inane Analogous words: spiritless, enervated, *languid, listless: *weak, feeble: diluted, attenuated, thinned (see THIN vb) Contrasted words: *spirited, high spirited, mettlesome, spunky, fiery, peppery,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • wishy-washy — [adj] bland, dull banal, characterless, cowardly, enervated, feeble, flat, flavorless, indecisive, ineffective, ineffectual, insipid, irresolute, jejune, languid, listless, mediocre, namby pamby*, sapless, spiritless, tasteless, thin, vacillating …   New thesaurus

  • wishy-washy — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of a drink or soup) weak or thin. 2) feeble or insipid …   English terms dictionary

  • wishy-washy — wish|y wash|y [ˈwıʃi ˌwɔʃi US ˌwo:ʃi, ˌwa:ʃi] adj informal [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: washy thin, watery (16 20 centuries), from wash] 1.) someone who is wishy washy does not have firm or clear ideas and seems unable to decide what they want used… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • wishy-washy — adjective Etymology: reduplication of washy Date: 1703 1. lacking in character or determination ; ineffectual < wishy washy leadership > 2. lacking in strength or flavor ; weak < wishy washy wines > • wishy washiness …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • wishy-washy — adjective informal 1 a wishy washy person does not have firm or clear ideas and seems unable to decide what they want: a bunch of wishy washy liberals 2 colours that are wishy washy are pale, not strong or dark …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • wishy-washy — adjective 1) he s so wishy washy Syn: feeble, ineffectual, weak, vapid, effete, gutless, spineless, limp, namby pamby, spiritless, indecisive, characterless; pathetic Ant: strong …   Thesaurus of popular words

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