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
Examples of brainwashing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
The tests were believed to be part of a super-secret experimentation program, Project MKUltra, which ran from 1953 to 1973 (when the program’s records were destroyed) to identify drugs that could weaken individuals and force confessions through brainwashing and psychological torture.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
In the aftermath, Rogers frees his teammates from prison while Barnes undergoes cryogenic stasis in Wakanda until his brainwashing can be cured.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
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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
The tests were believed to be part of a super-secret experimentation program, Project MKUltra, which ran from 1953 to 1973 (when the program’s records were destroyed) to identify drugs that could weaken individuals and force confessions through brainwashing and psychological torture.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
In the aftermath, Rogers frees his teammates from prison while Barnes undergoes cryogenic stasis in Wakanda until his brainwashing can be cured.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brainwashing
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brainwashing. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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