as in convincing
to cause (someone) to think or believe something by using methods that make a person unable to think normally
Terrorists brainwashed the prisoners. Does advertising brainwash children?
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Recent Examples of brainwashing
James Unnever, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
If brainwashing doesn’t work, defendants can hardly claim it as a defense.
—Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brainwashing
Verb
If these universities are truly the factories of leftist brainwashing that conservatives claim, shouldn’t these men have emerged as progressive ideologues themselves?
—James Unnever, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
If brainwashing doesn’t work, defendants can hardly claim it as a defense.
—Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
Maurice is convinced that Tall Pines is brainwashing teens and then sending them to who-knows-where to work as spies.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brainwashing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashing
Verb
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As Hollywood has grown more outspoken in recent months about the situation in the Middle East, the challenges of convincing its distributors — the lifelines that can take movies from obscurity to national recognition — remain.—
Rebecca Keegan,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
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After convincing The Great Hands and Tasha Steelz to join the faction, Ali eventually added Special Agent Zero to Order 4.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But my collection intentionally ignored the fraudulent exploits of billionaire heirs, tax dodgers and corporate magnates — defense contracts, government lobbying, bank accounts in Switzerland, shell companies in Panama, citizenship of Antigua and political asylum in London.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
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Bars and restaurants with five or fewer machines only face $500 fines, a low penalty that's the result of Tavern League lobbying.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, according to the survey, competitive pressure is the top factor influencing pricing decisions, cited by 50% of CFOs.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
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Zelensky saw only one way of influencing the situation.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Your Venus sign and house placement can reveal where the sweetness and seduction come alive, so check where the love planet resides in your chart for more.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Taking inspiration from the Greek enchantress Circe, the fragrance embodies her mythical characteristics of seduction and power, alongside rebellion and creation.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The thrill of the unexplained is what prompts so many to take ghost tours, which often tell juicy and sometimes goosebump-inducing stories that give historic sites a richer context.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
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Another reliable mattress source, Saatva makes mattresses packed with sleep-inducing features.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Near the end of his remarks, Ho mentioned his hopes for some areas of focus, including bringing homeless services back under local control and shifting some responsibility away from the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, or SHRA.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
28 Oct. 2025
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Instead—especially if advanced AI becomes a widely-available commodity—the majority of the value might instead flow to manufacturers of computer hardware, or to the industries where AI is bringing the most efficiency gains.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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According to the Maryland Lottery, the liquor store will receive $500 for selling a winner ticket.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Known for its best-selling air purifiers, Levoit brings that same filtration power to this vacuum.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There's something satisfying about cleaning windows and getting a streak-free finish.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
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There’s something satisfying about the victim-less crime.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashing. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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