brainwashing

noun

brain·​wash·​ing ˈbrān-ˌwȯ-shiŋ 

-ˌwä-

1

: a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas

2

: persuasion by propaganda or salesmanship

brainwash

ˈbrān-ˌwȯsh 

-ˌwäsh

transitive verb

brainwash noun

brainwasher noun

Examples of brainwashing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hale connects that story to another tale that took place in the same wilderness twenty years earlier—a story of a cult, brainwashing, teenage prophets, and murder. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026

Shakespeare put all his understanding of human nature into Iago’s brainwashing master class. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026

For recent historians of brainwashing, the issue carries high contemporary stakes. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025

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

Word History

Etymology

translation of Chinese (Beijing) xǐnǎo

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for brainwashing

• handwashing
• whitewashing
• quashing
• sloshing
• squashing
• washing

Medical Definition

brainwashing

noun

brain·​wash·​ing ˈbrān-ˌwȯsh-iŋ, -ˌwäsh- 

: a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas

brainwash transitive verb

brainwash noun

brainwasher noun