Mealy-Mouthed

C1 16+
Pronunciation Definitions Examples Grammatical Forms Origin and Evolution

Pronunciation: /ˈmiːliˌmaʊðd/

Definitions of mealy-mouthed

adjective having a soft, dry, crumbly texture like that of meal

Example Sentences

A1 The mealy-mouthed politician avoided giving a direct answer.

A2 She was mealy-mouthed when asked about her involvement in the project.

B1 The company's mealy-mouthed response to the customer's complaint only made things worse.

B2 The mealy-mouthed apology from the CEO did little to appease the angry shareholders.

C1 The mealy-mouthed statement from the government failed to address the concerns of the public.

C2 The mealy-mouthed explanation given by the defendant did not convince the jury of his innocence.

Examples of mealy-mouthed in a Sentence

formal The politician's mealy-mouthed response failed to address the concerns of the public.

informal Stop being so mealy-mouthed and just tell me what you really think.

slang I can't stand her mealy-mouthed excuses for not showing up on time.

figurative His mealy-mouthed compliments were as satisfying as a bland meal.

Grammatical Forms of mealy-mouthed

past tense

mealy-mouthed

plural

mealy-mouthed

comparative

more mealy-mouthed

superlative

most mealy-mouthed

present tense

is mealy-mouthed

future tense

will be mealy-mouthed

perfect tense

has been mealy-mouthed

continuous tense

is being mealy-mouthed

singular

mealy-mouthed

positive degree

mealy-mouthed

infinitive

to be mealy-mouthed

gerund

being mealy-mouthed

participle

mealy-mouthed

Origin and Evolution of mealy-mouthed

First Known Use: 1400 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The word 'mealy-mouthed' originated from Middle English, where 'mealy' meant 'soft' or 'crumbly' and 'mouthed' referred to speaking or expressing oneself. It was likely used to describe someone who spoke in a hesitant or insincere manner.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'mealy-mouthed' has evolved to describe someone who is evasive, insincere, or hypocritical in their speech, rather than just soft-spoken or hesitant.