1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
washed-out blond hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
feeling washed-out after the endless primary season, the party's nominee needs a vacation more than anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful
most of the participants in the tough training program washed out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bleached
to make white or whiter by removing color
the bright lights of the TV studio washed out her facial features, making her look as white as a ghost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wore
to use up all the physical energy of
that last illness washed the child out completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rinsed
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
wash out your bathing suit in the sink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of washed-out
PC Magazine, 25 July 2025
Lindsay’s nails cause the color of the nail bed to look half white and half red or brown, whereas Terry’s nails cause the nail bed to look mostly white or washed-out, per Cleveland Clinic.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
This shade leans totally into nude territory without being washed-out.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 July 2024
The picture is bright, though some high-contrast shots of silhouetted objects show slightly muddy or washed-out shadow details; the contours of a lioness against a sunset are slightly indistinct, while trees against a stormy sky are a bit too light.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
That addition is particularly important considering users have complained in Samsung's user forums and on Reddit about the current vivid setting appearing too washed-out.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Although colors aren’t reference-monitor accurate, the lifelike hues and sharp edges on words and textures create a high-quality image that doesn’t look artificially saturated or washed-out like on similar portable monitors.
—Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2023
Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
But this will result in the bright yellow leaves being over exposed and washed out.
—Mike De Sisti, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
In my limited time with the device, the screen was easy to see indoors, but it got washed out in direct sunlight.
—Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Sadly, the light of a waning gibbous moon washed out all but the brightest shooting stars this year, though photographers were still able to capture stunning compositions featuring the most brilliant members of the annual shower.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025
After this year’s July 17 storm, during which between 7 and 11 inches of rain fell over Wyandotte County, public works staff found blockages in the roads, areas that were washed out, at least 40 downed trees and erosion throughout the area.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
That group includes a Hall of Famer like Andre Dawson and players who washed out by age 30, like Hank Blalock and Yasiel Puig.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Sudden and intense bursts of extreme rainfall are causing devastation across mountainous parts of South Asia, triggering flash floods, deadly mudflows and huge landslides that have washed out entire neighbourhoods and turned vibrant communities into heaps of mud and rubble.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
His biggest concern was whether the main route will be washed out, and if tourists and delivery trucks will be cut off from the thin stretch of low-lying islands that are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges.
—John Seewer, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Images generally have washed-out colors and an overall dark tone.
—PC Magazine, 25 July 2025
Lindsay’s nails cause the color of the nail bed to look half white and half red or brown, whereas Terry’s nails cause the nail bed to look mostly white or washed-out, per Cleveland Clinic.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
This shade leans totally into nude territory without being washed-out.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 July 2024
The picture is bright, though some high-contrast shots of silhouetted objects show slightly muddy or washed-out shadow details; the contours of a lioness against a sunset are slightly indistinct, while trees against a stormy sky are a bit too light.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
That addition is particularly important considering users have complained in Samsung's user forums and on Reddit about the current vivid setting appearing too washed-out.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Although colors aren’t reference-monitor accurate, the lifelike hues and sharp edges on words and textures create a high-quality image that doesn’t look artificially saturated or washed-out like on similar portable monitors.
—Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2023
Verb
The author also criticized a method of averaging results that washed out other temperature features, such as the medieval warming period.
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
But this will result in the bright yellow leaves being over exposed and washed out.
—Mike De Sisti, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
In my limited time with the device, the screen was easy to see indoors, but it got washed out in direct sunlight.
—Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Sadly, the light of a waning gibbous moon washed out all but the brightest shooting stars this year, though photographers were still able to capture stunning compositions featuring the most brilliant members of the annual shower.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025
After this year’s July 17 storm, during which between 7 and 11 inches of rain fell over Wyandotte County, public works staff found blockages in the roads, areas that were washed out, at least 40 downed trees and erosion throughout the area.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
That group includes a Hall of Famer like Andre Dawson and players who washed out by age 30, like Hank Blalock and Yasiel Puig.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Sudden and intense bursts of extreme rainfall are causing devastation across mountainous parts of South Asia, triggering flash floods, deadly mudflows and huge landslides that have washed out entire neighbourhoods and turned vibrant communities into heaps of mud and rubble.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
His biggest concern was whether the main route will be washed out, and if tourists and delivery trucks will be cut off from the thin stretch of low-lying islands that are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges.
—John Seewer, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washed-out
Adjective
-
Williams, in a faded plaid shirt, gray hair sprouting from under a John Deere hat, paced.—
Molly Parker,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
-
While some might have a faded tie-dye shirt in the back of their closet and listen to the occasional Grateful Dead album, seniors across the spectrum are turning to cannabis—many for the first time.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Susan has lifted us up for 50 years; and her arms have not grown tired.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Discard the tired-looking center and separate clumps from the outer edges by hand or use a sharp knife or pruning saw.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Department of Buildings told CBS News New York and News 12 Long Island that a 10-by-10-inch section of the ceiling collapsed due to possible water damage, and pieces of the building fell on customers dining inside.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Tottenham collapsed last season when Romero and Mickey van de Ven spent months out injured.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The coral, now bleached, is alive, but slowly starving.—
Denise Hruby,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The only thing not bleached was, luckily, his face.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Posing next to Colman Domingo and Salma Hayek Pinault (who wore an elegant black Balenciaga suit dress), Moore’s glitzy look shone.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The shooter wore dark clothing and fired from a building roof some distance away to the courtyard where the event at which Kirk was speaking took place.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At this stage, the anchovies can be packaged with the salt they were cured in, or they can be rinsed, deboned, filleted, packed into tins or jars, and covered in oil.—
Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The operator rinsed the gloved hand in the sink and came back to the main cook line to prep food.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
One moment, the Sound of Sleat is a sheet of silver under a pale sun; the next, wind drives rain sideways into the distillery’s courtyard, rattling the pagoda roof.—
Gina Pace,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Curiosity and possibly even lust play into their first encounter; part of the welcome complexity between this pale-skinned woman of substance and this tall, equally alabaster, formerly dead drink of water is the ambiguity in their initial interactions.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Gaga ended the performance like an exhausted wind-up doll, caged again physically, but never spiritually.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The apparently recent footage showed two hostages -- Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel -- looking gaunt and exhausted while being driven around Gaza City.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Washed-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washed-out. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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