as in to bleach
to make white or whiter by removing color
years of sunlight had almost completely whitened the flag
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Recent Examples of whiten
At that point, the knuckles started to whiten on Causeway Street.
—
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Pairs that make the cut are cleaned from the sole upward, disinfected inside and, in some cases, whitened under UV light before being put back into circulation.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Use vinegar as a bleach-free alternative to whiten your whites.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
Dioxins are a chemical by-product of the bleaching process to whiten cotton, and they are associated with cancer and endocrine disruption.
—Jenni Shearston, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Pairs that make the cut are cleaned from the sole upward, disinfected inside and, in some cases, whitened under UV light before being put back into circulation.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Use vinegar as a bleach-free alternative to whiten your whites.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
Dioxins are a chemical by-product of the bleaching process to whiten cotton, and they are associated with cancer and endocrine disruption.
—Jenni Shearston, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiten
Verb
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But beyond these gardens the terrain is dry, trees thin; green after summer rains, but parched and bleached for most of the year.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
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Scented and bleached toilet paper can have irritating chemicals, while wiping the wrong way can increase your risk of infection.—
Pamela Assid Woughter,
Verywell Health,
11 May 2026
Verb
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In terms of where to beach, wide stretches of sand in Beach Haven remain some of the Jersey Shore’s most desirable, drawing surfers at sunrise, families hauling coolers and striped umbrellas by midday, and sunset walkers lingering until the sky fades pink over the dunes.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
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Inside, customers collect passport stamps, browse racks of worn leather and faded denim and line up for limited-edition tote bags tied to the second annual Vintage Store Day.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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For instance, researchers found that rapid urbanization and electrification across Asia drove brightening in cities from China to India to Sub-Saharan Africa.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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Just a little acid went a long way in brightening up all the flavors and cutting through the richness of the sauce.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whiten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiten. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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