Standard Lemma guide

washy

adj · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: W AA1 SH IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Watery; damp; soft.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Lacking substance or strength; weak; thin; dilute; feeble.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • washy tea
  • washy resolutions

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Not firm or hardy; liable to sweat profusely with labour.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, archaic, dialectal

Topics: hobbies, horse-racing, horseracing, horses, lifestyle, pets, racing, sports

Examples

  • a washy horse

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: washed out

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A wash, an act of washing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: childish, poetic, rare

Examples

  • Swishy, swishy, swashy. Give your hands a washy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • sun-bleached deck chairs
  • faded jeans
  • a very pale washed-out blue
  • washy colors

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bleached, faded, washed-out

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

overly diluted; thin and insipid

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • washy coffee
  • watery milk
  • weak tea

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: watery, weak

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wed- Proto-Indo-European *-sḱéti Proto-Indo-European *wodsḱéti Proto-Germanic *waskaną Proto-West Germanic *waskan Old English wascan Middle English wasshen English wash English -y English washy From wash + -y.