wishy-washy person

Meaning

1. 1nouncountableinformaldisapproving

   Someone who cannot make firm decisions or state clear opinions, especially when under pressure.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a wishy-washy person' or 'two wishy-washy people'. The adjective 'wishy-washy' can also stand alone before other nouns (e.g., 'a wishy-washy answer').

   Patterns

   • a wishy-washy person
   • be wishy-washy about something
   • come across as a wishy-washy person

   The manager is a wishy-washy person who never gives a straight yes or no.

   Stop being such a wishy-washy person and tell me what you really want.

   Voters saw him as a wishy-washy person who changed his mind every week.

Word forms

Common combinations

a wishy-washy person

She is a wishy-washy person who avoids every difficult choice.

be wishy-washy about something

He was wishy-washy about the plan, so we did not know what he wanted.

come across as a wishy-washy person

In interviews, she came across as a wishy-washy person with no clear goals.

too wishy-washy to decide

The committee was too wishy-washy to decide on a date.

Synonyms and how they differ

indecisive

This is a neutral adjective for someone who struggles to make choices; 'wishy-washy person' is more informal and suggests weak character, not just difficulty deciding.

weak-willed

This focuses on lacking determination and self-control; 'wishy-washy' focuses more on unclear or changing opinions.

irresolute

This is formal and literary; use it in writing when you want to sound serious, not in everyday speech.

Opposites

Word family

wishy-washy adjective

Having no clear or strong opinions; also used for weak drinks or pale colors.

Commonly confused: wishy-washy person or wishy-washy?

Practice

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