Wishy-washy

Characterized by indecision, lacking firmness or resolve; vacillating between different options or opinions. A wishy-washy person avoids taking a strong stand, often appearing hesitant or uncertain in their actions and beliefs. They may change their mind frequently or offer vague and ambiguous answers, making it difficult to understand their true stance. The term can also describe something lacking strength, quality, or conviction. This can be applied to arguments, writing, or even emotional displays, suggesting a weak or unconvincing presentation.

Wishy-washy meaning with examples

• The politician's wishy-washy statements on the environment left voters uncertain about his commitment to conservation. He seemed to agree with everyone, making it impossible to discern his actual environmental policy and thus, lost support from many of his potential voters.
• After much debate, the company's CEO made a wishy-washy decision to postpone the project, further frustrating the team's employees. The team wanted a definitive decision on the project, but the lack of commitment from their CEO damaged their trust in the company.
• The critic dismissed the movie as wishy-washy, noting its uninspired plot and weak character development, and thus, negatively impacting the movie's success.
• Her wishy-washy approach to managing the team led to confusion and inefficiency, as she hesitated to offer clear instructions or address conflicts. This lack of clear direction and management led to numerous issues for the team.
• Despite his best intentions, his wishy-washy arguments during the debate failed to persuade anyone due to the unclear or indirect support of his perspective. This ultimately led to him losing the debate.