mealy-mouthed
or meal·y·mouthed
[ mee-lee-moutht, -mouthd ]
adjective
avoiding the use of direct and plain language, as from timidity, excessive delicacy, or hypocrisy; inclined to mince words; insincere, devious, or compromising: Our local government is filled with mealy-mouthed politicians and self-serving bureaucrats.
Origin of mealy-mouthed
1Other words from mealy-mouthed
- meal·y-mouth·ed·ly [mee-lee-mou-thid-lee, -thid-, -moutht-, -mouthd-], /ˈmi liˌmaʊ θɪd li, -ðɪd-, -ˌmaʊθt-, -ˌmaʊðd-/, adverb
- meal·y-mouth·ed·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use mealy-mouthed in a sentence
The victorious Allies, who will be her judges, will not be moved by "mealymouthed philanthropies."
British Dictionary definitions for mealy-mouthed
mealy-mouthed
adjective
hesitant or afraid to speak plainly; not outspoken
Origin of mealy-mouthed
1C16: from mealy (in the sense: soft, soft-spoken)
Derived forms of mealy-mouthed
- mealy-mouthedness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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