1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
the supposedly rich rose she had chosen for the house unexpectedly came out a washy pinkish shade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thin
not containing very much of some important element
the economy needs some strong medicine right now, and our leaders are offering only washy gruel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of washy
Prime Minister Conte, a lawyer, prefers looping, legalistic, wishy-washy sentences.
—
Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2020
Despite the occasional box-checking, wishy-washy comment slapping Beijing on the wrist for the worst of its abuses, the reality is that the former vice president’s support of the People’s Republic of China is deep and longstanding.
—Tom Cotton, National Review, 11 Mar. 2020
What wasn’t though was the wishy-washy nature laced along the rest of that news release.
—oregonlive, 30 Jan. 2020
Joe Biden’s wishy-washy foreign policy record could be a liability for him in the wake of President Trump’s ordered strike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
—Emily Larsen, Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for washy
Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2020
Despite the occasional box-checking, wishy-washy comment slapping Beijing on the wrist for the worst of its abuses, the reality is that the former vice president’s support of the People’s Republic of China is deep and longstanding.
—Tom Cotton, National Review, 11 Mar. 2020
What wasn’t though was the wishy-washy nature laced along the rest of that news release.
—oregonlive, 30 Jan. 2020
Joe Biden’s wishy-washy foreign policy record could be a liability for him in the wake of President Trump’s ordered strike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
—Emily Larsen, Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for washy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washy
Adjective
-
Jenner opted to wear a pair of faded yellow jeans, a Guizio white tank top and a belly chain.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
For the second time in a week, the Dodgers made a minor-league acquisition of a faded pitching prospect with impressive velocity but poor control.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These thin stainless steel cake testers are not only cheap to replace but also widely available.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That, along with the March trade that sent Sam Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres, would leave them painfully thin down the middle, with little center help coming up through the system.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While visiting Malta with Prince Philip in 1951, the late monarch wore a pale purple beaded gown and fur stole.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Raspberries won't ripen after being picked, so be careful not to choose underripe ones that are pale.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Net income is $807 million, or 43 cents per diluted share.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The device pulls in a lot of air to capture the very diluted CO2.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
It must be said that the political opposition in El Salvador was close to non-existent, and Bukele had no trouble leaving it light years behind.—
Óscar Martínez,
The Dial,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The driver who fatally struck a grandfather in Midtown in 2024 was sentenced with 180 days of work release and 30 days of community service last week — a typically light sentence in California, where many vehicular manslaughter cases are charged as misdemeanors.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Second, a dilute hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the remaining lithium and the transition metals—nickel, cobalt, and manganese.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
-
For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.—
Robert F. Service,
Science | AAAS,
3 Sep. 2020
Adjective
-
The same study notes that the hormonal cascade may even dull pain by activating peripheral nerves and autonomic pathways.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Expecting dull days and strict rules, the boy instead stumbles into a world of delightful chaos and imagination – where outrageous stories are spun, and a world of wonder, memory and mischief unfolds.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washy. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
