brainwash

1 of 2

transitive verb

brain·​wash ˈbrān-ˌwȯsh 

-ˌwäsh

1

: to subject (a person) to brainwashing

denied a previous confession … saying that he had been brainwashed

—Front Page Detective

told how he had been brainwashed for 527 days in jail

—Ed Sullivan

2

: to persuade by propaganda

brainwash the voters

brainwasher noun

plural brainwashers

To convert someone, you don't clean the brain out. You put something in it. The brainwasher impresses his victims with his own superior fanaticism and honesty.

—Dr. Frederick J. Hacker, quoted in People, 10 June 1974

brainwash

2 of 2

noun

brain·​wash ˈbrān-ˌwȯsh 

-ˌwäsh

1

: the act of brainwashing

the moral savagery of the brainwash

—D. H. Gillis

2

: an instance of brainwashing

his brainwash in prison

Word History

Etymology

Transitive verb

back-formation from brainwashing

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Rhymes for brainwash

• backwash
• downwash
• mouthwash
• outwash
• panache
• whitewash
• bosh
• frosh
• gosh
• josh
• posh
• quash

Kids Definition

brainwash

verb

brain·​wash

-ˌwȯsh, 

-ˌwäsh

1

: to try to change someone's ideas by force

terrorists brainwashed the prisoners

2

: to try to influence someone's habits through sly persuading

advertising that brainwashes children