wispy

or wisp·ish

[ wis-pee ]

/ ˈwɪs pi /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR wispy ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, wisp·i·er, wisp·i·est.

being a wisp or in wisps; wisplike: a wispy plant.

RELATED WORDS

slender, nebulous, frail, slight

Nearby words

wishy-washy, wiskott-aldrich syndrome, wislany zalew, wismar, wisp, wispy, wissler, wissler's syndrome, wissler, clark, wist, wistaria

Origin of wispy

First recorded in 1710–20; wisp + -y¹

Related formswisp·i·ly, adverbwisp·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wispy

One 1918 example, in wispy silk chiffon and lace is even trimmed in mink!
What Lies Beneath: How Lingerie Got Sexy|Raquel Laneri|June 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The young, wispy models that have been featured in each runway show and look book have done the same.
65-Year-Old Linda Rodin Named the Newest Model for The Row|Justin Jones|January 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His scalp was freckled and shiny, with wispy tufts of hair above his ears.
Arafat’s Polonium Poisoning Mystery Resurfaces|Christopher Dickey|November 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He has rather a pimply face, a perpetual grin and damp-looking, wispy, straw-coloured hair.
From Chart House to Bush Hut|Charles W. L. Bryde

When he'd got through growin' the alfalfa, though, his pep seemed to give out, and the rest of him was as wispy as a schoolgirl.
Shorty McCabe on the Job|Sewell Ford
The boys were dismayed as they drew closer to see that the Castle was enveloped in a wispy smoke which seeped out from the woods.
Dan Carter and the Haunted Castle|Mildred A. Wirt
The wispy youth shrugged his shoulders and growled some inarticulate reply in monosyllable.
The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley|Bertram Mitford
His hair was mangy, standing out in isolated patches of wispy grey.
Michael, Brother of Jerry|Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for wispy

wispy

/ (ˈwɪspɪ) /

adjective wispier or wispiest

wisplike; delicate, faint, light, etc

Derived Formswispily, adverbwispiness, 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

Word Origin and History for wispy

wispy

adj.

1717, from wisp + -y (2). Related: Wispiness.