whitewash
1white·wash
transitive verb \ˈhwīt-ˌwȯsh, ˈwīt-, -ˌwäsh\Definition of WHITEWASH
1
: to whiten with whitewash
2
a : to gloss over or cover up (as vices or crimes) <refused to whitewash the scandal> b : to exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data
3
: to hold (an opponent) scoreless in a game or contest
— white·wash·er noun
Examples of WHITEWASH
- a book that tries to whitewash the country's past
- <refused to whitewash the governor's chronic disregard for the truth>
First Known Use of WHITEWASH
1591
Related to WHITEWASH
- Synonyms
- blink (at), brush (aside or off), condone, discount, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, overlook, overpass, paper over, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, excuse, wink (at)
2whitewash
nounDefinition of WHITEWASH
1
2
: an act or instance of glossing over or of exonerating
3
: a defeat in a contest in which the loser fails to score
First Known Use of WHITEWASH
1678
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