mealy-mouthed
adjective
avoiding the use of direct and plain language, as from timidity, excessive delicacy, or hypocrisy; inclined to mince words; insincere, devious, or compromising.
mealymouthed
-
a variation of
mealy-mouthed.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But for my money, there is too much tedious, mealymouthed chaff obscuring what should be her larger point.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
The Business Roundtable, an organization of CEOs of top U.S. corporations, was especially mealymouthed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2025
Roughan hasn't completely settled on Fiorina, but she took pleasure in mocking some of her mealymouthed male rivals who periodically get tongue-tied when the pressure of the campaign intensifies.
From US News ● Sep. 25, 2015
And in a chilling final twist, it appears that Diane and Will sold out the Blowtorch workers in interests of deep-pocketed client ChumHum, answering Alicia’s outrage with a mealymouthed non-denial denial.
From Time ● Apr. 22, 2013
“Don’t give me your simpering, mealymouthed answers. We’ve repaid our debts a dozen times over.”
From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep
