as in to convince
to cause (someone) to think or believe something by using methods that make a person unable to think normally
Terrorists brainwashed the prisoners. Does advertising brainwash children?
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Recent Examples of brainwash
Why not live in Hank’s sick decision to brainwash his daughter into loving him?
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
Landfair claimed that she was brainwashed by Kelly.
—Katherine Lam, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
The lyrics went beyond Evers’ white-supremacist killer, indicting an entire system that brainwashed poor white Southerners into hatred.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
In very One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fashion, good ol’ American capitalists were brainwashed into embracing Red communism.
—Jack King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
She was completely brainwashed by Raniere, and became part of a harem of women who serviced his every need.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Her home, District 12, has been destroyed and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) has been brainwashed by President Snow.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2025
There, Evelyn uses psychedelic drugs and psychological manipulation to brainwash them into joining the local community, which is, in fact, just a commune of Evelyn’s cultists.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
California high school senior Hadeel Hazameh believes she was brainwashed.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
Landfair claimed that she was brainwashed by Kelly.
—Katherine Lam, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
The lyrics went beyond Evers’ white-supremacist killer, indicting an entire system that brainwashed poor white Southerners into hatred.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
In very One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fashion, good ol’ American capitalists were brainwashed into embracing Red communism.
—Jack King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
She was completely brainwashed by Raniere, and became part of a harem of women who serviced his every need.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Her home, District 12, has been destroyed and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) has been brainwashed by President Snow.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2025
There, Evelyn uses psychedelic drugs and psychological manipulation to brainwash them into joining the local community, which is, in fact, just a commune of Evelyn’s cultists.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
California high school senior Hadeel Hazameh believes she was brainwashed.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwash
Verb
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One bite of the blue lobster fettuccine, and you’ll be convinced this is just how things were intended.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Lorena Gonzalez, who wrote AB 218 in 2019 before leaving the Legislature to head up the California Federation of Labor Unions, said lobbying firms had been urging unions recently to take the lead on convincing the Assembly to change the law.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By April, Kabila’s new government was persuaded by the IMF and the World Bank to withdraw from the contract with Gertler after only eight months.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
-
In the years following COVID, Picturehouse – like other movie theater chains – had to persuade people to come back into the movie theaters.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After striking out a batter and allowing a single, the freshman induced two flyouts to give Texas State the win.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The next closest were Framber Valdez and Logan Webb, who each induced 22 double plays.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The dragon is said to scare away bad spirits and bring good luck.—
Staff report,
Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The brand has done that by bringing its key features—Art Deco architecture, innovative dining, a grand ballroom, the Peacock Alley lounge where guests gather at all times of the day—and infusing them with an unmistakably Japanese spirit.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The website attracts hundreds of thousands of views, and her TikTok account has already grown to over 10,000 followers.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Since then, its footprint has expanded to eight locations nationwide and attracted a clientele ranging from Arnold Schwarzenegger to André 3000.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bond Ng, 47, was arrested on Sunday and charged with enticing a person to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution, federal officials said.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
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Social media have unique features, especially for users to generate and share content, but apps generally try to entice users to regularly visit and stick around.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The patchy performances of usual left-back Vitalii Mykolenko and Moyes’ faith in Michael Keane have also influenced the decision-making process.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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Clearly, the pro-Israel group aims to influence this historically Black district, which includes parts of Chicago’s downtown, Near South and West sides, and the western suburbs.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Higher interest rates, lower housing turnover and economic uncertainty have challenged the company, as homeowners delay the pricier projects typically spurred by buying or selling a home.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
On June 16, 1986, Langford was selling some of the last of her inventory when a crack addict named Melvin Trotter walked into Langford's Grocery Store and started stealing from the cash register.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwash. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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