mealy-mouthed

Or meal·y·mouthed

[mee-lee-moutht, -mouthd]

adjective

1. 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.

mealy-mouthed

adjective

1. hesitant or afraid to speak plainly; not outspoken

Other Word Forms

• mealy-mouthedness noun
• mealy-mouthedly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mealy-mouthed¹

First recorded in 1565–75; mealy ( def. ) + mouthed ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of mealy-mouthed¹

C16: from _mealy (in the sense: soft, soft-spoken)