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

Derived Forms

• ˌmealy-ˈmouthedness, noun

Other Words From

• meal·y-mouth·ed·ly [mee, -lee-mou-thid-lee, -, th, id-, -moutht-, -mou, th, d-], adverb
• mealy-mouthed·ness noun

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)

Example Sentences

They withdrew their slap on the wrist, while citing various mealy mouthed reasons.

From The Daily Beast

As for all the timid, mealy-mouthed incrementalists, Porter has only contempt for that kind of thinking.

From The Daily Beast

Twenty-five years later, he wrote a mealy-mouthed not-quite apology for his rhetoric.

From The Daily Beast

Appointing a task force on guns seems a little mealy-mouthed to me.

From The Daily Beast

That tape will prove far more persuasive than any expedient and mealy mouthed evasions.

From The Daily Beast

"It's no use being mealy-mouthed over this thing, Pete," he grated in that saw-mill voice of his.

From Project Gutenberg

Never creature, but mealy-mouthed inquisitors, and shaven singing birds.

From Project Gutenberg

"You must ask him yourself," I replied, losing patience, whereon she called me a "mealy-mouthed little fool" and laughed.

From Project Gutenberg

“You were mealy-mouthed,” he stated, with a genial retrospect in his voice.

From Project Gutenberg

The grey zone surrounding the black muzzle gives the appearance designated “mealy-mouthed.”

From Project Gutenberg