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 Dull blades leave tears and ragged ends that cause grass blades to wither and bleach out more quickly. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026 Martin uses a color extractor to remove existing dye, then bleaches the hair (except the gray roots) to get it as light as possible. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026 L'Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Mask L’Oréal Professionel’s products are the ideal pick for hair that’s been bleached, heat-styled, or both, at a drugstore price. — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026 The researchers first treated the cotton with sodium dithionite, a reducing agent, before bleaching it with hydrogen peroxide under alkaline conditions. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bleach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleach
  1. fade
  2. brighten
  3. dull
  4. whiten
Verb
  • That terrible scenario that doesn't easily fade definitely caused everyone to believe Quinn was at it again on Monday night – messing up again, forgetting that the last play was fourth down instead of third down.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, in the urban South, recent linguistic research finds that the drawl’s most salient features are starting to fade on the lips of young speakers.
    — Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of fade
Verb
  • Brightening Eye Gel $76 Designed to brighten, hydrate, and de-puff, Tata Harper’s soothing eye gel is one of my morning must-haves—and it’s also dermatologist approved.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Dalton also likes using it to deglaze a pan or brighten a sauce at the end of cooking.
    — Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of brighten
Verb
  • The primary effects generally wear off in less than an hour, but a person’s senses may remain dulled and their judgment and coordination impaired for several hours afterward.
    — Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Extreme weather events, such as drought or heavy rainfall, also stress trees and can trigger them to rapidly protect themselves by more rapidly pulling in the chlorophyll from their leaves, dulling fall colors.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dull
Verb
  • The brand describes the formula as peroxide-free and positions the 460 nm visible blue light, PAP toothpaste and light-guiding brush head as one whitening system used during brushing.
    — Advertorial, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Use baking soda, Bar Keepers Friend, or whitening toothpaste to scrub away coffee stains.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of whiten

Browse Nearby Words

blazons
bleach
bleached
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Cite this Entry

“Bleach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleach. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bleach

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bleach

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