whitewashing

1 of 2

noun

white·​wash·​ing ˈ(h)wīt-ˌwȯ-shiŋ 

-ˌwä-

: an act or instance of applying whitewash

also : whitewash sense 3

whitewashing

2 of 2

present participle of whitewash entry 1

Examples of whitewashing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The other half is captured in DuVernay’s fascinating portrait of the Lost Cause — the culture of defiance and regret and literal whitewashing that came to represent the Southern consciousness of what life had been before the Civil War. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Much has been talked of the whitewashing of Ayurveda, for one. — Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026

Others are just plain offensive when seen through modern eyes, serving as reminders of the rampant whitewashing of the early film industry. — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 6 July 2026

This smacks of whitewashing, which is usually a bad sign. — Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1650, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whitewashing

• brainwashing
• handwashing
• quashing
• sloshing
• squashing
• washing