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

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

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

The whole Carnival experience is actually a fine line between indoctrination, brainwashing and glorious community building. —Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

If brainwashing doesn’t work, defendants can hardly claim it as a defense. —Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 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