bleach

verb

ˈblēch How to pronounce bleach (audio)
Definition of bleachnext
as in to fade
to make white or whiter by removing color bleached the stained shirt back to its original white

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bleach If a garment or surface isn’t clearly bleach safe, test the product on an inconspicuous area first. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026 Sometimes, corals of a single reef don’t bleach evenly, with some individuals dying off while their neighbors persist. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026 Inside, the scenery is far more elaborate than in its outdoor counterparts as there is no danger of it getting bleached by the sun or blowing away. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Their typically bright coral feathers were white, as if they had been bleached. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bleach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleach
  1. fade
  2. brighten
  3. dull
  4. whiten
Verb
  • None of this happened by accident, and the proof is in the long list of former Dell competitors from its founding era, who have faded into oblivion.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The sense of historic possibility that once made the jihadi movement so threatening to Western countries has faded.
    — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of fade
Verb
  • On overcast afternoons, the sky often brightened as the evening wore on, as if the world were turning in reverse.
    — Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Saturn, meanwhile, continues to brighten in the east during the late evening, making this an increasingly good time to point binoculars or, better still, a small telescope toward the ringed planet.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of brighten
Verb
  • Detergent, minerals, and everyday grime can cling to the fibers, creating a film that dulls their appearance.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Abrasive sponges and cleaners can leave tiny marks behind that will dull and damage the surface over time.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dull
Verb
  • The bestselling whitening strips have more than 62,000 positive reviews.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • There’s a bullet hole in Hal’s forehead, as well as a significant accumulation of snow on his already whitening hair.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of whiten

Browse Nearby Words

blazons
bleach
bleached
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bleach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleach. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bleach

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bleach

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